Speak to me

[CaroGirl]

Is the following phrase: a) new use that I'm just not accustomed to, b) slang or colloquial use, c) wrong, or perhaps d) archaic?

"I don't know enough about it to speak to that subject."

As opposed to what I'm more familiar with, which is "speak about" (or "talk about") or "speak on."

[Terie]

I can't say for sure about 'speak to', but I've observed that British preposition usage can be startingly different from American usage. If your source for that quote was a Brit, that might explain it.

[CaroGirl]

I can't say for sure about 'speak to', but I've observed that British preposition usage can be startingly different from American usage. If your source for that quote was a Brit, that might explain it.
Ah, regional! I forgot regional differences as an option. Thanks, Terie.
My source is newspaper story (could have been on the wire from anywhere, not sure). Is this something you hear and read a lot where you are?

[ResearchGuy]

Is the following phrase: a) new use that I'm just not accustomed to, b) slang or colloquial use, c) wrong, or perhaps d) archaic?

"I don't know enough about it to speak to that subject."

As opposed to what I'm more familiar with, which is "speak about" (or "talk about") or "speak on."
To speak to (a topic) is equivalent to to address (a topic). The former appears to be a relatively old-fashioned expression -- and certainly suggests more formality than to talk about (a topic). If I am reading the entry right in Webster's New World Dictionary, Third College Edition, "speak to" and "address" in the sense of talking about a topic are archaic. (FWIW, my late father was the etymological editor of that dictionary.)

In the example you cited, I suspect that many people would use the word "discuss" instead of the phrase "speak to."

--Ken

[Terie]

Ah, regional! I forgot regional differences as an option. Thanks, Terie.
My source is newspaper story (could have been on the wire from anywhere, not sure). Is this something you hear and read a lot where you are?

At first I wasn't sure, but you know what? In my original reply, I almost typed, 'I couldn't speak to "speak to"', so I kind of think it might be. :D It certainly didn't strike my 'ear' as funny when I read your OP until I thought about it some more. I've lived here long enough now that what was once unfamiliar and noticeable isn't so much anymore.

[WildScribe]

I agree, I think it is a Britishism and possibly sort of archaic. I've heard it, but I don't usually use it.

[ResearchGuy]

I agree, I think it is a Britishism and possibly sort of archaic. I've heard it, but I don't usually use it.
No, it is not specifically a British usage.

Google "speak to the topic" (with the quotation marks). The phrase is more common and more current than you might think.

--Ken

[PeterL]

Is the following phrase: a) new use that I'm just not accustomed to, b) slang or colloquial use, c) wrong, or perhaps d) archaic?

"I don't know enough about it to speak to that subject."

As opposed to what I'm more familiar with, which is "speak about" (or "talk about") or "speak on."

I have seen or heard similar uses, and I got the impression that it was a colloquial expression.

[Ms Hollands]

I've never heard that phrase. I've lived in Australia and England although not for the past four years.

[Shadow_Ferret]

So... when they speak to the subject, does the subject speak back?

[Kisatchie]

To speak to (a topic) is equivalent to to address (a topic). The former appears to be a relatively old-fashioned expression -- and certainly suggests more formality than to talk about (a topic). If I am reading the entry right in Webster's New World Dictionary, Third College Edition, "speak to" and "address" in the sense of talking about a topic are archaic.


I just looked in the 4th edition and there is no mention of the idiomatic "speak to" being archaic. See: http://www.yourdictionary.com/speak

[ResearchGuy]

I just looked in the 4th edition and there is no mention of the idiomatic "speak to" being archaic. See: http://www.yourdictionary.com/speak
Dunno how that compares to the printed edition, though. The Third was the last one my father worked on, so I have that one at hand.

--Ken

[bonitakale]

I never heard "speak to" until fairly recently. In the back of my mind, I think of it as jargon from California. Which is not fair to California, but there it is. "I can't speak directly to that subject, but I'll tell you what Abel shared with me yesterday." Bah, humbug!

[Terie]

I never heard "speak to" until fairly recently. In the back of my mind, I think of it as jargon from California. Which is not fair to California, but there it is. "I can't speak directly to that subject, but I'll tell you what Abel shared with me yesterday." Bah, humbug!

Bonitakale might be on to something here...I'm originally from California! LOL!

[Bufty]

Never heard the phrase 'speak to that subject' used at all.....possibly a monarch's directive to a court official? ;)

[backslashbaby]

Many of my US professors said that. I can't remember if my British Tutor or Lecturers ever did.


Ms. XXX, please speak to the role of China in... blah blah blah...