Advanced English Advanced Vocabulary Speak and Talk (Advanced)
| Speak and Talk (Advanced) |
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| Advanced English - Advanced Vocabulary | |||
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Both speak and talk have the same meaning: to communicate ideas and thoughts by words, to utter words or articulate sounds. They can be used interchangeably. However, there are some differences: Speak – is preferred on more official occasions and is usually used when one person addresses a group. Talk – is less formal and in most cases suggests conversation between two or more persons.
Both these verbs are usually intransitive (they don’t have a direct object after them). They are generally followed by a preposition (to/with, about, for) or by some adverbial modifier (much, less, in a quiet voice, a long time, etc.) Talk is used more frequently than speak. Preposition to is more frequent than with. Also, compare the nouns speaker and talker: a good talker is a person whose conversation is interesting. A good speaker is a person who is good at giving speeches to audiences. Remember the following phrases and proverbs with talk: talk back talk sense, nonsense, business, politics, baseball, etc. talk bad, dirty, trash talk shop = discuss work related issues talk peace talk something over/through talk somebody into something/doing something talk somebody out of something/doing something talk nineteen to the dozen talk oneself hoarse talk through one’s hat talk big = show off, boast talk one’s head off = to talk nonsense, brag, show off talk turkey = talk about business, seriously talk down = speak in a condescending manner, as if to a child talk out = discuss until everything is agreed on, settled talk like a Dutch uncle TTYL = talk to you later (internet chat) All talk and no trousers = synonym – all talk and no action Now you are talking! (informal) Great talkers are little doers. Talk of the devil and he is sure to appear. speak a language (speak English, speak Chinese, etc.) so to speak = one can say, as it were speak up = speak louder frankly, generally, strictly, roughly speaking legally speaking roughly speaking speak the truth speak fluently, easy speak volumes = speak a lot speak ill/evil of somebody speak the word – express one’s wish speak for oneself – to speak about one’s own opinion/feelings speak one’s mind speak to the subject – speak on the topic the facts speak for themselves = the fact speaks for itself this speaks him generous nothing to speak of the tongue speaks speak against time speak with a forked tongue = speak dishonestly, lie, make false promises be on speaking terms with somebody speak with plum in the mouth - showing that someone is from a very high social group. Actions speak louder than words When guns speak it is too late to argue. A liar isn’t believed when he speaks the truth. A truer word was never spoken. A word spoken is past recalling. Many speak much who cannot speak well.
 Speak vs. Talk - worksheet (1.17 MB) contains thorough explanations on the use of the two words, a list of set expressions, proverbs and sayings, three exercises and an answer key. It can be used by teachers in their classrooms or as a self-study tool.You need to be logged in to download this file. Membership is free!
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