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I've heard the following two sentences and I'd like to understand the
differences between the two, if any, and when it is appropriate to use one vs
the other:

> おいしゃさん **と** はなしています
>
> おいしゃさん **に** はなしています

It is my understanding that these both translate to "I am speaking to the
doctor", but what is the difference between `と` and `に` here?
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2018-01-18T21:06:09.093
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2018-01-21T03:46:09.720
2020-06-17T08:18:27.500
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question
word-choice particle-に particle-と
と (to) vs に (ni) in a phrase like "I am speaking with/to"
It is the same as the difference between talking 'with' someone as opposed to
talking 'to' them. おいしゃさんにはなしています can mean that some information is being
conveyed to the doctor (basically 'telling' them). と does not imply such a
nuance.

お医者{いしゃ｝さんに言｛い｝う would be simply conveying that information, but
お医者｛いしゃ｝さんに話｛はな｝す implies discussion relevant to the information might also be
taking place.

> 彼はあなたに話していますよ、先生。He's talking to you, doctor.
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2018-01-18T23:00:41.713
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answer
おいしゃさん **と** はなしています is "I am talking _with_ my doctor", whereas おいしゃさん **に**
はなしています is "I am talking _to_ my doctor".

The first one with と is natural in most cases, because when you go to a
doctor, normally both you and your doctor will talk to each other.

～にはなす can be naturally used when you're talking to something that do not reply
to you:

> 彼【かれ】は人形【にんぎょう】に話【はな】している。  
>  He is talking to a doll.

...or what is important is whom you are talking to:

> 私【わたし】はあなたにではなく、お医者【いしゃ】さんに話【はな】しています。  
>  I am talking not to you, but to my doctor!
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2018-01-20T13:52:50.823
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answer