Questions & Answers about Kitap oku ve konuşma.
Why does konuşma use -ma instead of -me for the negative command?
To tell someone not to do something, you add the negative suffix -ma or -me directly to the verb root. Because the verb root konuş (speak) contains the back vowel u, A-type vowel harmony dictates we must use -ma.
Why is it Kitap oku without the word bir (a/an)?
In Turkish, when a noun is a general object of a verb—like the general activity of reading books—you can just use the bare noun. Kitap oku is essentially saying "Do some book-reading." You don't need bir unless you specifically want to emphasize reading one book.
How do we know who is being told to read and not speak?
Commands directed at a single person informally (the sen or "you" form) use the bare verb root with no personal suffixes. That's why we just see the roots oku (read) and konuş (speak, before the negative suffix is added).
Where should I put the spoken stress when saying konuşma?
In Turkish negative commands, the spoken stress lands on the syllable right before the negative suffix. Therefore, you should pronounce it as ko-NUŞ-ma. Stressing the correct syllable is a key way native speakers recognize negative commands.