say、speak、state、talk、tell与utter这些动词均有“说、讲”之意。
say : 最普通常用词，指用语言表达思想，着重所说的内容。
- But there is something that I must say to my people, who stand on the warm threshold which leads into the palace of justice: In the process of gaining our rightful place, we must not be guilty of wrongful deeds.
但是对于等候在正义之宫门口的心急如焚的人们，有些话我是必须说的。在争取合法地位的过程中，我们不要采取错误的做法。
——《我有一个梦想》（I have a dream）
speak : 侧重于说话动作的本身，着重说话的能力而不在内容，可以是长篇大论的演讲，也可以是三言两语的交谈，甚至指简单的开口发声说话。
- I am not speaking metaphorically; nor is this the opening gambit of some melodramatic, riddling, grubby appeal for pity.
我这不是比喻，这也不是什么耸人听闻、故意叫人摸不透、卑鄙的恳求怜悯的开场白。
——《午夜之子》（Midnight's Children）
state : 较正式用词，通常指用明确的语言或文字着重地叙述事实，既强调内容又注重语气。
- 在庆祝香港回归祖国20周年大会上，我曾经讲过，中央贯彻“一国两制”方针坚持两点，一是坚定不移，确保不会变、不动摇；二是全面准确，确保不走样、不变形。
At the meeting celebrating the 20th anniversary of Hong Kong's return to the motherland in 2017, I stated that the central government, in implementing the principle of "one country, two systems," will maintain two key points: first, the central government will remain resolute in implementing the principle, and will not change or vacillate in this stand; and second, the principle will be implemented as what it is originally intended precisely.
——习主席在庆祝香港回归祖国25周年大会暨香港特别行政区第六届政府就职典礼上的讲话（双语全文）
talk : 普通用词，侧重指与人交谈时的连续说话，可指单方面较长谈话，和speak一样，着重说活动作而不侧重内容。
tell : 普通用词，指把某事告诉或讲述给某人听，口语或书面语均可用。
- The best way to divulge a secret is to tell someone not to say anything about it.
泄露一个秘密的最好方法是告诉某个人不要说任何关于它的事。
——查尔斯·弗莱舍（Charles Fleischer）
utter : 着重说话的行为，常指声音的使用，突出用噪子发声。
- She sat through the whole meeting without uttering a word.
整个会议期间她一言不发。
