Frank Petrexa
Tribune
This is what I've just posted in the 'nailing feet' thread:
Well, if they were hanging limp, and/or struggling and 'dancing',
I think they'd pretty soon be fighting for breath, finding it painful to breathe, never mind speak.
There's debate (here and in books, websites etc.) as to whether death would have been caused by asphyxiation,
the lungs simply giving up - but the chest muscles would be under enormous strain.
On the other hand, if the feet and/or groin were supported, the strain would be less,
and the condemned ones might have been able to take in what was going on,
speak, even shout to each other - as of course happens in the biblical accounts.
None of them say anything in Mark.
But you are right that they probably could talk, because the Gospels were written early enough that readers would know if the scene wasn't realistic--unlike the Resurrection, this scene was public and had a well known theme. Whether complete sentences and grandiloquent statements were likely is another question. But I did read once that at Waterloo, Sir Arthur Wesley, Duke of Wellington, was watching the action from high ground and sent a grammatically correct missive with complete sentences to a subordinate warning of impending catastrophe if the guy didn't make some adjustments right away. So, some people can apparently keep their cool under strenuous circumstances, so maybe Jesus could too.