Speak vs. talk

[Keokounila]

Hello everybody,

What is the difference between 'speak' and 'talk'?

Ex: I want to speak to you.
I want to talk to you.

Thanks in advance!

[Alan]

Hi keokounila,

In very general terms speak is formal and talk is informal. In your example I want to speak to you would be a request to discuss something important or serious. You might note that someone who is giving a lecture in a public hall would be introduced as: Today's speaker is the writer, XXXX.
The sentence: I want to talk to you suggests I want to have a chat or conversation with you.

Alan
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English as a Second Language
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[Keokounila]

I got it now, Sir. Thank you very much indeed for your help!

[Torsten]

Hi Keokounila,

You might also want to read speak vs. talk.

Let me know what you think.
Best regards,
Torsten
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TOEIC Preparation & TOEIC Vocabulary

[Svitlana_Morokhovych]

What is the differense between "speak to" and "speak with"? I know that we say "speak to somebody about something".
When one pickes up the phone what should he say? "To whom am I speaking?" "With whom am I speaking?"
Or they also tought us at school that it should be "Whom am I speaking with?"
And also what's the rule of writing in the letter "To Whom It May Concerned:"

I would really appreciate, if somebody could answer me regarding that!!!

Thank you.

Svitlana

[Milanya]

In most uses these combinations are interchangeable: "I spoke to/with her for only a few minutes". In some cases, however, there may be slight differences: "Speak to" sounds a bit more one-sided, perhaps, than "speak with," which suggests more give and take (more of a two-way conversation).

Phrasal verb: speak to/with

To Whom It May Concern (not concerned)

As an open document, not directed to a specific person, these letters are headed
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN
and there is no direct greeting. The text follows without one.

There is also usually just the signature and no end salutation.
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con·text - The part of a text or statement that surrounds a particular word or passage and determines its meaning.