Speak, talk – differences
When do we use speak and when do we use talk? Here are the differences:
| Speak, talk | |
| Speak and talk have similar meanings. They suggest that a person is using his or her voice, or that two or more people are having a discussion. | |
| We say: speak to somebody (about something) talk to somebody (about something) |
What are you talking about? Who were you speaking to on the phone? I was talking to Mark about cricket. How old were you when you learned to speak? |
| We say: speak a language talk a language talk nonsense speak nonsense |
He speaks four languages. Stop talking nonsense! |
| Speak to and talk to are used more often than speak with and talk with. | I was talking to Tom yesterday. |
| Speak to is a little more formal than talk to, and is often used in polite requests. | [on the phone] Hello, could I speak to Mr Jones, please? |
For more examples of speak/talk, see Stuart’s article Confusing words: speak, talk
Practise ‘speak’ vs. ‘talk’ in an exercise.
Say, tell, talk, speak… What’s the difference? | angloXchange - August 18, 2012, 4:48 pm
[…] Source: speakspeak.com […]
Dave Groona - November 30, 2015, 9:23 am
He speaks nonsense is correct. He is speaking nonsense is also correct. It is a matter of formality not grammar.
In fact;
He is talking French / He talks French all the time / He always talks about French
He is speaking French / He speaks French all the time / He always speaks about French
Again, this is a matter of formal / informal discussion.
Rory - April 15, 2016, 8:47 pm
I was taught that we speak ‘with’ someone (speaking being 2 way conversation between equals) and talk ‘to’ someone (talking being one way verbalisation, as a headmaster would talk to a student). It could be the other way round, but definitely remember one of them is better to use with ‘with’ and the other with ‘to’. ‘Talking to’ someone implies a superiority of the person doing the talking. Speaking with someone implies an equal status worthy of a conversation.