Can we say "May I talk to sb?" on phone?

[Sin-Yu Tsai]

Can we say "May I talk to sb?" on phone?
Or "May I speak to sb?" is the only way to use.
Thank you.

 

[Tarheel]

I don't know why you can't use either one. There is also:

Let me talk to So and So.

OR

Put So and So on the phone.

OR

Let me talk to So and So for a minute.

I am assuming, of course, that it's an informal conversation and not a business call.

 

[bhaisahab]

Can we say "May I talk to sb?" on phone?
Or "May I speak to sb?" is the only way to use.
Thank you.

Who is "sb"?

 

[Rover_KE]

'sb' is not an acceptable abbreviation in this forum, Sin-Yu Tsai.

 

[Sin-Yu Tsai]

'sb' is not an acceptable abbreviation in this forum, Sin-Yu Tsai.

If I call Vivian, can I say "May I talk to Vivian?"when someone answer the phone?
What is the difference between May I talk to Vivian and May I speak to Vivian?

 

[tedmc]

If I call Vivian, can I say "May I talk to Vivian?"when someone answer the phone?
What is the difference between May I talk to Vivian and May I speak to Vivian?

I think the latter is more formal and polite.

 

[bubbha]

A suitably formal/polite way to say this (for example, in a business situation, or when calling the parents of your girlfriend or boyfriend) would be to say "May I speak with Vivian?"

 

[emsr2d2]

Note that bubbha is a speaker of AmE where "speak with" is commonly used. It's not used that way in BrE. We would ask to "speak/talk to​ Vivian".

 

[Tdol]

'sb' is not an acceptable abbreviation in this forum, Sin-Yu Tsai.

It is used in dictionaries, where I presume Sin-Yu Tsai got it from. However, in the forum we do write most words in their full form as it makes life easier for everyone.

 

[GoesStation]

I also would use to rather than with.

 

[Tarheel]

I would not consider "talk to" less polite than "speak to". (AmE)

 

[Boris Tatarenko]

I also would use to rather than with.

What state are you from? I'm quite interested.

 

[GoesStation]

What state are you from? I'm quite interested.

Ohio, which, despite its actual location on the map, is the easternmost of the midwestern states.

 

[bubbha]

I find "with" to imply speech that is more bi-directional and on equal footing. "to", in my opinion, has a little more of a one-directional, higher-status-to-lower-status feel to it.

But in normal, everyday speech, I wouldn't worry about it.

Yes, I'm a speaker of American English.