speaking type: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
A1Neutral to formal
Quick answer
What does “speaking type” mean?
The action of communicating verbally.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The action of communicating verbally; producing speech.
The act, skill, or characteristic manner of expressing oneself through spoken words; also used in compound terms (e.g., public speaking) to denote a specific domain of verbal communication.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal. Both use the term identically. The phrase 'broadly speaking' is slightly more frequent in British English.
Connotations
Neutral in both. In educational contexts, 'speaking and listening' is a common collocation in the UK, while 'oral communication' is more frequent in US academic settings.
Frequency
Equally high frequency in both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “speaking type” in a Sentence
[adjective] + speakingspeaking + [noun]speaking + [prepositional phrase]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “speaking type” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- He was speaking on the phone for ages.
- Strictly speaking, that's not correct.
American English
- She is speaking at the conference next week.
- Generally speaking, I agree with you.
adverb
British English
- Broadly speaking, the plan was a success.
- Practically speaking, it won't work.
American English
- Generally speaking, it's safer that way.
- Roughly speaking, we need about fifty.
adjective
British English
- He has a very clear speaking voice.
- English-speaking countries.
American English
- She landed a speaking role in the play.
- A non-Spanish speaking tourist.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Refers to presentation skills, client communication, and public speaking at conferences.
Academic
Used for assessing language proficiency (e.g., 'IELTS Speaking'), seminar participation, and oral exams.
Everyday
Common in phrases like 'I'm not on speaking terms with him' or 'Generally speaking, it's a good idea.'
Technical
In linguistics, refers to speech production, phonetics, and spoken discourse analysis.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “speaking type”
- Incorrect: 'His speak is very good.' Correct: 'His speaking is very good.'
- Incorrect: 'I am good in speaking.' Correct: 'I am good at speaking.'
- Incorrect plural: 'speakings'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It can function as both a noun (gerund) and a verb (present participle), depending on the sentence structure.
'Speaking' often emphasizes the act or skill of producing speech, while 'talk' can be more informal and refer to a conversation or lecture.
Practice regularly with native speakers or fluent partners, listen and mimic, record yourself, and focus on fluency over immediate accuracy.
It means having a civil, communicative relationship with someone, especially after a disagreement.
The action of communicating verbally.
Speaking type is usually neutral to formal in register.
Speaking type: in British English it is pronounced /ˈspiːkɪŋ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈspikɪŋ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “on speaking terms”
- “speaking of which”
- “strictly speaking”
- “speak volumes”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
SPEAKing = Say Phrases Expressly Aloud, Knowing It's Necessary for Giving voice.
Conceptual Metaphor
SPEAKING IS A CHANNEL (opening a line of communication), SPEAKING IS A JOURNEY (going into detail).
Practice
Quiz
Which phrase is used to introduce a related topic?