GRAMMAR POINT

SPEAK AND TALK

There is not very much difference between speak and talk. In certain situations one or the other is preferred (though they are usually both possible)

Talk is the more usual word to refer to conversational exchanges and informal communications...

When she walked into the room everybody stopped talking.
Could I talk to you about your results ?

Speak is often used for one-way communication and for exchanges in more serious or formal situations...

I´ll have to speak to that boy – he´s getting very lazy
They had a terrible row last week, and now they´re not speaking to one another
After she had finished reading the letter, nobody spoke

Talk is often used for the act of giving an informal lecture (a talk); speak is preferred for more formal lectures...

This is Mr Brown, who´s going to talk to us about travelling around Asia
This is Professor Smith , who is going to speak to us on recent developments in low-temperature physics
The Pope spoke to the crowd for seventy minutes about world peace

Speak is the usual word to refer to knowledge and use of languages, and to the physical ability to speak...

She speaks three languages fluently
We spoke Spanish so that the children wouldn´t understand
His throat operation has left him unable to speak

We usually ask to speak to somebody on the phone (US also speak with)...

Hello. Could I speak to David, please ?