Is it wrong to say speak instead of talk?

Question

I mean if you say something like: 'I heard them speaking'?

Answer 1

Subtle difference given that the meanings are very close and both verbs can be used in the transitive or intransitive mode. However speaking could more likely refer to publicspeaking, and talking to a conversation between a few people. Also speaking can denote a more formal mode of address, while talking evokes a louder form of communication. Hard to pin down though so usage wins. What do you think?

Answer 2

They are kind of interchangable. I would say heard them talking, but tend to use speak as in "speak with" rather than "talk to" as I prefer the tone of the phrase. Just as I believe in the idea of making love with rather than to someone - it just implies active participation on both sides.

Answer 3

Both are perfectly fine: the English Language is unusually rich in different words having broadly the same meaning - synonyms. This is due to the many languages that have been adopted and incorporated into the language in our long cultural history.

Answer 4

To Speak, is to address.

To Talk, is to converse.

I heard him speaking, means no-one else was involved in the dialogue.

I heard him talking, implies more than one person in the dialogue.

Hope that helps.

Answer 5

You speak a language. You never talk English but you could talk IN English.

Answer 6

I learned English as a second language. (Actually it was my fourth, but I learned it as a foreign language.) We learned that "speaking" is the proper way of saying what you said.

Talking is very informa, and in this case incorrectl. Talking is the act of having words leave the mouth, speaking is when wants to communicate with another.

Answer 7

I heard them speaking sounds more accurate.

Answer 8

If thats how you speak then so be it. I heard them talking sounds better though.

Answer 9

No its just most people say talk..talking...."Speaking" is more a proper term..." She was speaking to her teacher." (" She spoke of important things." sounds better then "She was talking about important things.") However neither is incorrect. It is a matter of personal preference.

Answer 10

"I heard them talking" is supposed to be the correct way. But they say the same thing so what does it matter.