Talk and Speak

[Bhuvana]

When do we use 'Talk' and when do we use 'Speak'? :confused:

[bhatia]

When do we use 'Talk' and when do we use 'Speak'? :confused:

Speak is some what related to speech and gives formal impression, Other hand talk gives informal approach.
Otherwise they both have same meaning.

[DanielScocco]

They are almost interchangeable in my opinion.

The difference would be that speak is more formal, and related to some specific activities. For example, you speak in front of an audience, while you talk with your friends.

[Englishstudent]

Can I add an example ? :D

speak is more formal, that's right, and sometimes you can't use (Talk) like

when you say: "Speaking of..." you can't say: "talking of...". I might be

mistaken, but hope someone will correct me if I am.

Peace:)

[kurian]

hey I also have confusion in using :

inspite / despite

some/ certain

PLease help out

[DanielScocco]

Kurian, can you please create separated threads for each of those? Else it will be difficult for other members to find them out.

[neelcm]

May be these examples help:

Speak can be used as followings:

He is speaking with me.
He spoke with me for hours.
I'm speaking with him.

Talk can be used as followings:

Are you talking to me?
He is talking to everybody else.
I'm talking with him.


When you call some one what will you say, "May I speak/talk to Mr?"

[Maeve]

Speak has been in the language longer than talk.

The two words are for the most part interchangeable, although there are some idioms which call for one or the other:

to talk turkey (tell things as they are; get down to business)
speak the speech (as in Shakespeare's Speak the speech, I pray you...)

In teaching a dog to bark on command, the word used is Speak! (not Talk!).

"I'll speak to him" carries more of a threat than "I'll talk to him."

Ex. I'm going to speak to your father about your behavior.