We’re baffled by the suddenly widespread use of the phrase speak to to mean show, demonstrate, express, relate to, or speak about. It’s usually inflected speaks to and often appears in quoted speech—for example:

“… To come out and do what we did speaks to our character, to our ambition and to our work ethic,” said White. [USA Today]

Dave Johnson … said the increasing number of candidates “speaks to voters’ desire for change …” [The Cavalier Daily]

Illogical phrases in speech are understandable, but speak to and speaks to are also rampant in writing—for example:

The talent and enthusiasm on display in this competition speaks to the country’s enormous human capital. [Wall Street Journal]

But the use of Geronimo’s name speaks to the powerful, if unexamined, hold that the nation’s “Indian wars” continue to have on our popular consciousness. [Los Angeles Times]

… and Louisville’s role as repeat host for the conference tournament speaks to the quality of its facilities. [ESPN]

His nickname, “Count Dracula,” speaks to the fact that he was born in Transylvania. [Montreal Gazette]

Maybe we’re the only ones bothered by this. People obviously love using speaks to this way, and it’s probably harmless. But it just doesn’t make sense, and there is always at least one perfectly good alternative.

Aside form the above-mentioned alternatives, bespeak, meaning to give a sign of or indicate, would be a perfect replacement if it didn’t sound archaic.

Of course, speaks to can be used figuratively without being nonsensical. For example, these make sense:

But they employ fantasy as entertainment and to highlight themes that speak to our hearts. [Seattle Post-Intelligencer]

Mariachi is a genre of music that speaks to the soul, Haefer said. [College Times]

If you’re not bothered by the use of speak to to mean demonstrate or speak about, don’t listen to us.