[KLS]

As of next release you'll be able to add something like:

function eq.Say(msg, lang)
	local owner = eq.get_owner();
	if(owner.null) then
		return;
	end
	
	if(lang == nil) then		
		owner:Say(msg);
	else
		local entity_list = eq.get_entity_list();
		
		entity_list:ChannelMessage(owner, 8, lang, msg);
	end
end

in your lua_modules/general_ext.lua

Then you'll be able to use it in scripts like:

if(e.message:findi("hail")) then
	eq.Say("Test string 1");
elseif(e.message:findi("there")) then
	eq.Say("Test string in thieve's cant.", 10);
end

In the same way quest::say is used in perl more or less.