talk English/French

[joham]

Oxford 6/7th edition: Are they talking Swedish or Danish?
Longman 4edition: talk (in) German/French etc

Macmillan:
talk English: (idiomatic) very informal to speak using less difficult words or expressions so that someone can understand what you are saying

Cambridge says 'He talks French' is a wrong sentence.

Could I ask native English teachers to explain how native speakers use the verb 'talk' with such words as English, French, etc? Thank you in advance.

[Anglika]

The use of "talk" and a language name is quite usual if somewhat colloquial

Please talk English
After three years I was able to talk Greek

I cannot think why Cambridge should suggest "He talks French" is incorrect. Can you give the full reference?

[philadelphia]

I foresee Cambridge would rather suggest "he speaks French". It may seem more appropriate as to the capacity to use (speak) a language.

Not a teacher at all. Only someone who can speak French.

[riverkid]

I foresee Cambridge would rather suggest "he speaks French". It may seem more appropriate as to the capacity to use (speak) a language.

Not a teacher at all. Only someone who can speak French.

I agree that that's very likely the distinction they're making.

??Does he talk French? versus Is he talking [in] French?

[joham]

The use of "talk" and a language name is quite usual if somewhat colloquial

Please talk English
After three years I was able to talk Greek

I cannot think why Cambridge should suggest "He talks French" is incorrect. Can you give the full reference?

Cambridge Learner's Dictionary:
speak: Usage: speak or talk?
Remember that you speak a language. You do not talk it.
She speaks French.
Not:She talks French.

[philadelphia]

Cambridge Learner's Dictionary:
speak: Usage: speak or talk?
Remember that you speak a language. You do not talk it.
She speaks French.
Not:She talks French.

In fact, neither Anglika nor the dictionary gets wrong. It depends on the context.

I am talking about football with someone meaning more a conversation than I can speak a language or speak for someone - because of you get the capacity/knowing of him to speak for/about him/her.

Not a native speaker though

[philadelphia]

I have omited to say that talk/speak to me may be interchangeable on many contexts. It would definitely be wrong and odd to try to strictly/clearly differentiate both due to they cannot be.