quality of its sounds collectively considered.

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SPEAK.

Synonyms:

announce, converse, discourse, say,
articulate, declaim, enunciate, talk,
chat, declare, express, tell,
chatter, deliver, pronounce, utter.

To _utter_ is to give forth as an audible sound, articulate or not. To
_talk_ is to _utter_ a succession of connected words, ordinarily with
the expectation of being listened to. To _speak_ is to give articulate
utterance even to a single word; the officer _speaks_ the word of
command, but does not _talk_ it. To _speak_ is also to _utter_ words
with the ordinary intonation, as distinguished from singing. To _chat_
is ordinarily to _utter_ in a familiar, conversational way; to _chatter_
is to _talk_ in an empty, ceaseless way like a magpie.

Prepositions:

Speak _to_ (address) a person; speak _with_ a person (converse with
him); speak _of_ or _about_ a thing (make it the subject of remark);
speak _on_ or _upon_ a subject; in parliamentary language, speak _to_
the question.

* * * * *

SPEECH.

Synonyms:

address, dissertation, oration, speaking,
discourse, harangue, oratory, talk,
disquisition, language, sermon, utterance.

_Speech_ is the general word for _utterance_ of thought in _language_. A
_speech_ may be the delivering of one's sentiments in the simplest way;
an _oration_ is an elaborate and prepared _speech_; a _harangue_ is a
vehement appeal to passion, or a _speech_ that has something
disputatious and combative in it. A _discourse_ is a set _speech_ on a
definite subject, intended to convey instruction. Compare CONVERSATION;
DICTION; LANGUAGE.

Antonyms:

hush, silence, speechlessness, stillness, taciturnity.

* * * * *

SPONTANEOUS.

Synonyms:

automatic, impulsive, involuntary, voluntary,
free, instinctive, unbidden, willing.

That is _spontaneous_ which is freely done, with no external compulsion
and, in human actions, without special premeditation or distinct
determination of the will; that is _voluntary_ which is freely done with
distinct act of will; that is _involuntary_ which is independent of the
will, and perhaps in opposition to it; a _willing_ act is not only in
accordance with will, but with desire. Thus _voluntary_ and
_involuntary_, which are antonyms of each other, ar