TALK / SPEAK / SAY / TELL Using talk correctly Talk [1] is used in two ways: Talk is the only one of these four verbs that describes the pure act of opening one's mouth and producing meaning-giving sounds. My nephew is only two years old, and he talks very well. That guy talks all the time. He's never heard the expression, "Silence is golden." Talk may also be used as follows: Hello, may I please talk to Bill Thompson? I haven't talked to Caroline since last week. RULE: TALK TO + PERSON NOTE: In general, talk does not take a direct object. You say things. (You do not "talk" things.) Do not use talk in reported speech. Use say or tell when reporting. He said he was coming. He told me he was coming. I said I'd help them later. I told them I'd help them later. Talk is frequently used to mean discuss. We talked about getting together when the trial was over. We talked about it. He and I were supposed to talk about the tax implications of that move. Talk forms a part of many phrasal verbs. Below are two of the most common: (1) talk into : persuade, convince They talked me into taking that I.P. [2] seminar with them. They talked me into it. I'm trying to talk Mike into working with us. We need his help. I'm trying to talk him into it. (2) talk out of : persuade, convince not to take an action My wife talked me out of buying a new car. (She convinced me not to spend the money.) I was going to buy a new car, but my wife talked me out of it. Talk has two frequent uses as a noun: (1) (give) a talk : a speech She gave an interesting talk on international trade issues and the TRIPS agreement. (2) (have) a talk : an informal conversation I'd like to have a talk with some of my staff members, but it's so hard to find the time. Talk is used negatively in the following fixed expressions: Talk is cheap. Jim is all talk. [3] NOTE A talker is very different from a speaker. A talker is a person who only talks. A talker does not act. The sense is negative. [4] A speaker is typically a person who has been invited to talk, or to speak, because he/she has something interesting or worthwhile to say to the group. [5] TALK/SPEAK/SAY/TELL Using speak correctly Speak [6] is typically used in two ways: As a request for conversation May I speak to Tom Smith, please? I'd like to speak to your manager if he's in. In this sense, speak to is interchangeable with talk to. RULE: SPEAK TO + PERSON Speak is the only verb that can refer to language (whether native or foreign language). Examples: A: How many languages does Benny speak? B: He speaks ten languages fluently. Latin is no longer a spoken language. Speech (noun) always refers to language production: He doesn't speak very well. I wonder if he has a speech impediment. I have a hard time understanding them. They use a lot of slang terms in their speech. She gave an interesting speech on international trademark issues. (Give a speech has the same sense as give a talk.) NOTE Avoid the expression "speak of." Use the expression talk about, instead. Inappropriate: We spoke of the patent valuations at time of transfer. Appropriate: We talked about the patent valuations at time of transfer. Native speakers use the expression "speak of" in poetry and religion: Petrarch [7] spoke of the beauty of Laura, a young woman he loved. Religious prophets often speak of a life after man's life on earth. It is not appropriate to use speak of in science, business or law. TALK/SPEAK/SAY/TELL Using say correctly Say [8] is typically used to repeat statements made. He said he could help us on Saturday. She always says we should call her if we have any questions. Do not use say when including the person spoken to: Incorrect: He said to us (that) he could help us on Saturday. She always says to us (that) we should call her. Correct: He told us (that) he could help us on Saturday. She always tells us (that) we should call her. The only time to include “the person spoken to” with say is in the fixed question: What did you say to him? What did they say to you? Even with these questions, the correct answers remain: What did you say to him? I told him. . . . What did they say to you? They told me. . . . The most typical question and answer patterns are as follows: A: What did she say? B: She said she'd like to protect her invention. A: What did you say after that? B: I said we’d be happy to help her file for a patent. The noun, a saying, means a proverb. A proverb / saying is a little lesson that is repeated from person to person. Proverbs are often difficult to translate because each culture has its own. Proverbs / sayings are fixed expressions: Following are two examples: A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. A picture is worth more than a thousand words. TALK/SPEAK/SAY/TELL Using tell correctly Tell [9] is the verb used to include the speaker, the audience, and the message. Joe told me he would meet us downtown. SPEAKER AUDIENCE MESSAGE We will tell them the best time to go. Sue never tells us anything about her personal life. Incorrect: That’s what I told. Correct: That’s what I said. - or - That’s what I told them. The noun, a tale is a story. A fairy tale is a story that a parent tells a small child. Speaker (parent) Audience (child) Message (story) TELL is frequently used (in idiomatic English) to mean know, distinguish, determine. For example: I can't tell the difference between those two sisters. They look exactly alike to me. I know very little about stereo equipment. As a result, it's hard for me to tell the difference between [10] one type of stereo component and another. A: What's wrong with this printer? B: I can't tell. I'll have to call the computer assistance hotline. TALK/SPEAK/SAY/TELL STRUCTURE EXERCISES Directions: Re-express the following sentences using say. 1. She told me she'd meet me at 4:30. 2. Jack told us it was very simple to apply for a patent, but very difficult to defend it later. 3. The judge told us to amend the complaint pursuant to his remarks. 4. Alice always tells them to keep her posted on any changes in the registration procedures. Directions: Re-express the following sentences using tell. 5. Tom always says he wants to come with us. 6. Cynthia said she'd be a few minutes late. 7. Sharon said they'd call before leaving. 8. Sharon said to call before leaving. * NOTE: Use any object (me/us/them/him/her) after tell or told in exercises 5-8 above. The purpose is to practice. TALK/SPEAK/SAY/TELL ANSWERS TO STRUCTURE EXERCISES Directions: Re-express the following sentences using say. 1. She told me she'd meet me at 4:30. She said she'd meet me at 4:30. 2. Jack told us it was very simple to apply for a patent, but very difficult to defend it later. Jack said it was very simple to apply for a patent, but very difficult to defend it later. 3. Benny told me to meet him there. Benny said to meet him there. 4. The judge told us to amend the complaint pursuant to his remarks. The judge said to amend the complaint pursuant to his remarks. Directions: Re-express the following sentences using tell. * 5. Tom says he wants to come with us. Tom told me/us he wants to come with us. 6. Cynthia said she'd be a few minutes late. Cynthia told me she'd be a few minutes late. 7. Sharon said they'd call before leaving. Sharon told me they'd call before leaving. 8. Sharon said to call before leaving. Sharon told us to call before leaving. * NOTE: You can use any object (me/us/them/him/her) after tell or told in exercises 5-8 above. The purpose is to practice. TALK/SPEAK/SAY/TELL FLUENCY EXERCISES Directions: Answer the following questions, starting with a complete sentence. Feel free to show me your answers. 1. How many languages do you speak? How many languages does your secretary speak? 2. What did you talk about at your last meeting? 3. When was the last time you spoke to your family? 4. What did you talk about with them? 5. What did they say? 6. Who did you talk to first? Who did you talk to last? 7. When was the last time you talked to your office? 8. Who is the most talkative person in your family? 9. Have your kids ever talked you into doing something you hadn’t planned to do? If so, what? Has your spouse ever talked you out of doing something you had planned to do? If so, what? 10. Have you ever given a speech to a large group? If so, what did you talk about? ________________________________ [1] talk / talked / talked [2] intellectual property [3] This expression is used about a third person. It means that Jim only talks – he does not act, nor does the speaker believe he ever will act. [4] “He’s just a big talker.” Is a common expression in referring to people like this. [5] A common way to refer to speakers is to say “guest speaker.” [6] speak / spoke / spoken [7] A famous Italian poet. [8] say / said / said [9] tell / told / told [10] Note the full construction of this phrase: tell the difference between X and Y