I talk with Homo Sapiens

Sounds strange to say "I talk with Homo Sapiens", doesn't it?  Is "I talk with Humans" any better?  We don't normally describe it this way.  We're more likely to say "I talk with people". So why is mediumship described as "talking with the dead"?  Using the term "the dead" is about as strange as using "Homo Sapiens" or "Humans" in conversation.  Why don't we say "spirits" or "spirit people" instead?  It has a much more natural sound and feel.  Animals and other special entities aside for a minute, they're people, so why don't we refer to them as such?