Origin and history of talk

c. 1200, talken, "speak, discourse, say something," probably a diminutive or frequentative form related to Middle English tale "story," and ultimately from the same source as tale (q.v.), with rare English formative -k (compare hark from hear, stalk from steal, smirk from smile) and replacing tale as a verb. East Frisian has talken "to talk, chatter, whisper."

The slang meaning "disclose information" (to authority) is from 1824. To talk (someone, oneself) into or out of (some action or condition) is by 1690s. To talk at "make remarks intended for but not addressed to" is by 1789.

To talk (something) up "discuss in order to further or promote" is from 1722. To talk over (someone) "override in talking" (in a broadcast or recording) is by 1962. To talk back "respond forcefully or impertinently" is by 1847, American English colloquial.

To talk (someone) down "out-talk, drown out with talk" is by 1814. To talk down to "lower one's discourse to the presumed level of one's audience" is by 1855. To talk down an aircraft, "provide with directions by radio to enable it to land" in low visibility or an emergency is by 1943.

To talk big "speak boastfully" 1690s. To talk someone's ear off is by 1871 (the older thing talked off was the hind leg of a horse or other quadruped, by 1808).

Another [journeyman tailor] in discussing the social qualities of his landlady, would allege that she could talk the ears off a cast-iron dog. [Lancaster (Pa.) Intelligencer, April 27, 1871]

The phrase talking head is by 1966 in the jargon of television production, "an in-tight closeup of a human head talking on television." In reference to a person who habitually appears on television in talking-head shots (usually a news anchor), by 1970. The phrase is used earlier, in reference to the well-known magic trick (such as Señor Wences's talking head-in-the-box "Pedro" on the "Ed Sullivan Show"), and to actual talking heads in mythology around the world (Orpheus, Bran).

Related: Talked; talking. Talking machine is by 1844 of various inventions; as "a phonograph" by 1891.

late 14c., "speech, discourse, conversation," from talk (v.). The meaning "informal lecture or address" is by 1859.

The sense of "report, rumor" is from 1550s; the meaning "a subject of gossip" is from 1620s (in talk of the town). Talk show is recorded by 1959; talk radio by 1962.

Martin S. Fliesler, vice-president of independent station WOR in New York, told more than 350 broadcasters that "talk" radio has attracted a large audience and some radio stations are thriving because of it. [Owen Sound (Ontario) Sun-Times, Oct. 16, 1962]