When do we use speak and when do we use talk? Here are the differences:
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Speak and talk have similar meanings. They suggest that a person is using his/her voice, or that two or more people are having a discussion. We can say: speak to somebody talk to somebody speak to somebody about something talk to somebody about something |
How old were you when you learned to speak? What are you talking about? Who were you speaking to on the phone? Who were you talking to on the phone? I was speaking to Mark about cricket. |
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But we say: speak a language NOT talk nonsense NOT Speak to and talk to are used more often than speak with and talk with. |
He speaks four languages. Stop talking nonsense! I was talking to Tom yesterday. |
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Speak is a little more formal than talk, and is often used in polite requests. |
Hello, could I speak to Mr Jones, please? |
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For more examples of speak/talk, see Stuart’s article Confusing words: speak, talk
