Can particle で be used for means be used with people?


I'm attempting to make a sentence saying

> ぼくは ともだち で はなしています
>
> I am speaking with a friend

While making it I was just wondering if using で would be correct since I kind
of felt like ともだち would be the means for which I do the verb はなしています. Maybe I
would just use を here? Not sure, any help/ explanation here is appreciated




Using で in this case would be unnatural because it sounds like you're using
your friend to talk. To indicate who you are talking to, use the particle と
instead, meaning "with":

> ぼくはともだち **と** はなしています  
>  I am talking with my friend.

It is possible to use the particle で with the verb 話す, but it will indicate
what means of communication you used, never who you were talking with. Some
examples of when you do use で:

> 日本語{にほんご}で話す{はなす} - Speak in Japanese  
>  電話{でんわ}で話す{はなす} - Talk over the phone  
>  小声{こごえ}で話す{はなす} - Speak in a low voice




Using で in this case would be unnatural because it sounds like you're using
your friend to talk. To indicate who you are talking to, use the particle と
instead, meaning "with":

> ぼくはともだち **と** はなしています  
>  I am talking with my friend.

It is possible to use the particle で with the verb 話す, but it will indicate
what means of communication you used, never who you were talking with. Some
examples of when you do use で:

> 日本語{にほんご}で話す{はなす} - Speak in Japanese  
>  電話{でんわ}で話す{はなす} - Talk over the phone  
>  小声{こごえ}で話す{はなす} - Speak in a low voice

