What's the difference between "say" "talk" and "speak" ?

Question

Answer

Speak and Talk 

1 little difference 

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). 

2 formality 

Talk is the more usual word to refer to conversational exchanges and informal communication. 
... When she walked into the room everybody stopped talking. 
... Could I talk to you about the football match for a few minutes? 

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. 

3 lectures etc 

Talk is often used for the act of giving an informal lecture (a talk); speak is preferred for more formal lectures, sermons etc. 
... This is Mr Patrick Allen, who's going to talk to us about flower arrangements. 
... This is Professor Rosalind Bowen, 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. 

4 languages 

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 French so that the children wouldn't understand. 
... His throat operation has left him unable to speak. 

5 other cases 

One usually asks to speak to somebody on the phone (US also speak with). 
... Hello. Could I speak to Karen, please? 

Talk is used before sense, nonsense and other words with similar meanings. 
... You're talking complete nonsense, as usual. (NOT You're speaking complete nonsense ... ) 


Resource:  Practical English Usage - Michael Swan - Oxford University Press

Answer

say: vt. state, always with the content.
talk: vi.  exchange thoughts. 
speak: ability to say with a certain language.

Answer

for instance:
he said that your question was asked before... say yes, say no, say something. that's exactly what i said.
talk to me, we're talking bussiness. 
speak English, speak Chinese.

Answers · 5

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