An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics

To utter words with the ordinary voice (not singing) to communicate; to talk.

Etymology (EN): From M.E. speken “to speak,” from O.E. specan, alteration of earlier sprecan “to speak;” cf. Low Germ. spreken “to speak,” Du. spreken, Ger. sprechen “to speak;” ultimately from PIE *spreg- “to make a sound, utter, speak.”

Etymology (PE): From M.P. saxwanitan “to speak, to talk,” → speech.