と言えば picks up a topic, often a word someone has just said, and adds what it brings to mind: "speaking of", "when it comes to". It follows a noun directly, with no .
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Speaking of Tanaka, I heard he moved recently.
、、。
Oh, speaking of movies, a new one comes out next week.
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Speaking of travel, I need to renew my passport.
The first thing it calls up
The second half can also be what everyone associates with the topic: the typical example, the obvious answer. often goes with it.
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When you think of summer, it's fireworks festivals, isn't it?
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When it comes to France, it has to be wine.
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What comes to mind when you think of Japanese food?
Usage notes
These go beyond picking up a topic.
そう言えば
, "that reminds me", brings up something the conversation has made you think of, without naming the word that did it.
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That reminds me, tomorrow is Tanaka's birthday.
The same word twice
With the same word on both sides, と言えば gives a reluctant yes: "I suppose so, if you put it that way". A but-clause usually follows.
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I suppose I like it, but I wouldn't want it every day.
と言うと
can also mean "speaking of", and in addition asks what someone means by a word.
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Tanaka – you mean the tall one?
Lingaku