I tried using the Dectalk PC 2 long ago with the Speakup driver, and had similar problems. I found that what I often had to do is load it from DOS, then do a soft reboot with control-alt-delete. I also had problems where the Linux clock would lose time severely whenever the Dectalk PC 2 was active. I eventually gave up and went back to the Accent PC I had gotten when the manufacturer was dumping his remaining stock. Once I got a new PC, I switched to the Dectalk USB in RS232 mode, and haven't looked back. The bottom line is that the Speakup driver may well work with the original Dectalk PC, but seems not to work well with the later PC 2. I don't have the slightest idea of what the cause is.
