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Ruttonjee Posted 19 years ago
Vocabulary

speak to or speak with?

0Hi there,02br
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00One day, I heard my colleague talk with our boss. The first sentence of his was: 'Mr. Owen, I want to talk to you'. But I think he should have said, ' I want to talk with you.' It is because 'talking to someone' may sound that the speaker is superior to the listener. (Is it true?) Do you think 'talking with you' is more appropriate in the above case? Is there any difference between 'speak with someone' and 'speak to someone'? 02br
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00Simon0-
  

Top answer

0 No, it's actually "speak to you" that implies superiority. " The student invariably recoils in panic, and spends the rest of the class period speculating on why the teacher wants to speak to him. In my opionion, "Mr.

  • 0 No, it's actually "speak to you" that implies superiority.
  • " The student invariably recoils in panic, and spends the rest of the class period speculating on why the teacher wants to speak to him.
  • In my opionion, "Mr.
  • " (notice "talk" not "speak"), actually sounds friendly and pleasant in my opionion.
  • Notice he didn't say: "Mr.
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3 Answers
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0 No, it's actually "speak to you" that implies superiority. There's a dreaded phrase that teachers use: "I want to speak to you after class." The student invariably recoils in panic, and spends the rest of the class period speculating on why the teacher wants to speak to him. In my opionion, "Mr. Owen, I want to talk to you." (notice "talk" not "speak"), actually sounds friendly and ple
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0 There is a slight difference in meaning between the two sentences.02br
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00 "I want to talk to you," implies that the speaker is going to tell Mr.Owen something and that the exchange may be one sided. He is speaking to Mr. Owen. Mr. Owen may or may not say anything back, but it is not necessary for him to do so.02br
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00 "I want to talk with
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It's sooooooooo interesting!

to talk and to speak have the same meaning regarding the prepositions "to" and "with"!
I learn a lot with you guys!

thanks

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