talking picture
LowHistorical/Technical
Definition
Meaning
A motion picture with synchronised sound, especially recorded dialogue.
A film, as distinct from silent movies; often used historically to describe the novelty of sound in cinema during the late 1920s and early 1930s.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The term is largely archaic in contemporary use, having been superseded by 'film' or 'movie'. It is primarily used in historical contexts or to deliberately evoke the era of early sound cinema. The phrase is a noun phrase functioning as a compound noun.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. The term is equally historical in both varieties. The shorter form 'talkie' is also common in both.
Connotations
Connotes a specific period in film history. May sound quaint or old-fashioned.
Frequency
Very low frequency in both dialects. 'Film' or 'movie' is used for the modern concept.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
The [first/early] talking picturethe advent/rise of the talking picturea transition to talking picturesVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “The talkies (collective term for talking pictures).”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare; might be used in a historical analysis of the entertainment industry.
Academic
Used in film studies and historical texts discussing the technological shift in cinema.
Everyday
Almost never used in modern conversation unless discussing film history.
Technical
A precise historical term in film technology and historiography.
Examples
By Part of Speech
adjective
British English
- It was a talking-picture revolution.
- The talking-picture era began in 1927.
American English
- It was a talking-picture revolution.
- The talking-picture era began in 1927.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- We watched an old talking picture.
- My grandfather remembers seeing his first talking picture.
- The Jazz Singer' is often cited as the first commercially successful talking picture.
- The transition from silent films to talking pictures rendered many actors' careers obsolete due to their unsuitable voices.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a PICTURE that starts TALKING — that's the revolutionary novelty the term describes.
Conceptual Metaphor
A PICTURE IS A PERSON (capable of speech).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not translate literally as 'говорящая картинка'. The correct modern equivalent is 'кинофильм' or 'фильм'. The historical term is 'звуковое кино' or 'говорящее кино'.
Common Mistakes
- Using it to refer to any modern film (archaic).
- Incorrectly capitalising it as a proper noun.
- Misspelling as 'talking pictue'.
Practice
Quiz
What is a 'talking picture' most accurately described as?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, but it is an archaic term specifically highlighting the presence of sound, used mostly for films from the late 1920s and early 1930s.
They are synonyms. 'Talkie' is the informal, shortened version of 'talking picture'.
Primarily in historical or academic discussions about the early history of cinema. In everyday conversation, you would just say 'film' or 'movie'.
It was not the absolute first, but it was the first feature-length talking picture to achieve major commercial success, marking the beginning of the sound era for mainstream cinema.