Speak to me

CaroGirl · Feb 4, 2010

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 · Feb 4, 2010

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 · Feb 4, 2010

Terie said:
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 · Feb 4, 2010

CaroGirl said:
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 · Feb 4, 2010

CaroGirl said:
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.

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 · Feb 4, 2010

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 · Feb 4, 2010

WildScribe said:
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 · Feb 4, 2010

CaroGirl said:
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 · Feb 4, 2010

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

Shadow_Ferret · Feb 4, 2010

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

Kisatchie · Feb 4, 2010

ResearchGuy said:
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 · Feb 4, 2010

Kisatchie said:
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 · Feb 4, 2010

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 · Feb 5, 2010

bonitakale said:
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 · Feb 5, 2010

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

backslashbaby · Feb 5, 2010

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...

Speak to me

CaroGirl

Living the dream

Terie

Writer is as Writer does

CaroGirl

Living the dream

ResearchGuy

Resident Curmudgeon

Terie

Writer is as Writer does

WildScribe

Slave to the Wordcount

ResearchGuy

Resident Curmudgeon

PeterL

Ms Hollands

Cow lover

Shadow_Ferret

Court Jester

Kisatchie

I stop at railroad crossings

ResearchGuy

Resident Curmudgeon

bonitakale

Terie

Writer is as Writer does

Bufty

Where have the last ten years gone?

backslashbaby

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Speak to me

Living the dream

Writer is as Writer does

Living the dream

Resident Curmudgeon

Writer is as Writer does

Slave to the Wordcount

Resident Curmudgeon

Cow lover

Court Jester

I stop at railroad crossings

Resident Curmudgeon

Writer is as Writer does

Where have the last ten years gone?

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