I was absolutely positive about this until someone remarked that the can´t. So now I have in my Way of the Wicked campaign a Antipaladin Skeletal champion.
Does that mean he must resort to gestics when talking? :D
Would be not very funny for him to play.
Even if the rules say so, I will let him talk. But I wantet to know for the future.
Answer unclear, I think, if you really need a RAW answer. They're written up as a race of undead that can gain class levels and has the same stats as a skeleton, rather than a variation on the skeleton template. The text description is very short, though, and that's where languages show up.
I would certainly assume they could. They are sentient undead, and all the other sentient undead can talk whether or not they have appropriate physical hardware to make language. They are powered by raw evil. Allowances can be made.
Depends on if they still have lips.
Since the Skeletal Champion BBEG in a Paizo module written by Jason Bulmahn talks to the party, I suspect the answer is (supposed to be) yes.
I'm pretty sure I've read somewhere that intelligent skeletons can talk in a dry, rispid voice.
After all, talking without lungs can't be any harder than moving without muscles and seeing without eyes.
I don't see why they can't. They are already walking, so talking should not be that hard.
I use skeleton warrior wizards all the time.
The bones of the dead are up and walking around all their own... but talking!?!
Egads! We can't have the thing talk, that'd just be silly!
Answer: Yes. If you want them to, they can talk. If you don't want them to, they can't.
I've played the module mentioned above, and that guy talked to us right before we wooped up on him, so I agree with Urath DM.