It was supposedly in an early leaked preview. That's why I'm not sure if it was just a rumor or if there was an original source.

I wouldn't speak to creature just to avoid conflicts. I would speak to learn more about them, or help them.
We are already start useless conflict with any human/humanoid person on TES, but I would love to have a soul binded creature, like a wolf being my friend.

In fact, I would like something much more elaborate than the "speak in order to avoid fighting" thing.

I would love to be able to talk with creatures to be given quests by them, to discover their culture, the Gods they worship, perhaps even to do quest for those Gods and receive new artifact as reward, to be taught how to cast the spell they use, or how to craft weapons/armors in their fashion. Don't you want to be taught by a Will-o-the-Whisp how to absorb your ennemy's health, to learn how Goblins fashion their weapons and armors, or to be be given by some Spriggan deity a unique staff that traps your ennemies in poisonous brambles?

I'm going to quote Pete Hines view on dragons for how I feel about giants "No, dragons are our friends and we just have to get along, this isnt how to train your dragon."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vCJhb3FZ2po