2
ŭ is also a consonant, and has the sound of a w in we, as Eŭropo.
The vowels a, e, i, o, u have not the English but the Continental sounds.
a always like a in ah! or in tart.
e like e in bend, but broader, like e in there.
i is a sound between ee in meet and i in is.
o like o in for, or in the Scottish no or au in aught.
u like oo in boot, poor.
a, e, i, o, u are all simple sounds, that is, the mouth is kept in one position while they are being sounded. In learning them lengthen them out, and be careful not to alter the position of the mouth, however long they are drawn out. In the compound sounds given below the shape of the mouth changes; to get the correct pronunciation sound each letter fully and distinctly, gradually bringing them closer until they run together, when they become almost as follows:―
aj nearly like ai in aisle, or i in nice, fine.
ej,,,, ei vein.
oj,,,, oy in boy, or oi in void.
uj,,,, uj in hallelujah.
aŭ like ahw, or nearly ou in house, pronounced broadly, haouse.
eŭ,, ehw, or ey w in they were ayw in wayward.
Practise saying aja, eja oja, uja, aŭa, eŭa several times quickly. Then gradually drop the final a.
Accent.
The accent or stress is always placed on the syllable before the last, as es-pe-ro, es pe-ran-to, es-pe-ran-tis-to, es-pe-ran-tis-ti-no; ju na, ju-nu-lo, ju-nu-li-ro. All the syllables must be clearly pronounced, not slurred over.
