15. KZ. In pronouncing this combination, do not follow the English pronunciation of words like
"exempt," etc., which our dictionaries give as "egzempt." Be careful not to turn the K into G in such words as ekzemplo = example, ekzameni = to examine. The full sound should be given to every letter in the three syllables, ek-zem-plo.
16. Pronunciation of Words.—Every vowel and consonant in a word is pronounced distinctly, and the sound never varies, whether the letters are initial, medial, or final; there is no mute letter in Esperanto. Each syllable must be distinct, and it must be remembered that when two vowels come together, such as ai, ae, ee, ii, oi, etc., or two similar consonants, as kk, ll, mm, etc., each letter always belongs to a different syllable, and must be given its full sound.
17. Tonic Accent.—The stress of the voice, or the tonic accent, is always on the penultimate (last syllable but one). Even in words of two syllables the tonic accent must be strongly perceived in the first syllable. The euphony and beauty of the language would in a great measure be destroyed by non-observance of this rule.
(a). In compound words, as in others, the accent must very distinctly fall on the penultimate of the whole word; but when a compound word consists of four syllables, or more, the meaning of the prefixed word, or words, may be shown by laying a certain stress on those syllables which would be accented if they were complete independent words. It will be noticed how much easier it is to grasp the meaning of a prefixed word if a slight stress of the voice be given to that syllable on which we are accustomed to hear the accent fall when the word stands alone, as:—Du-be-ni-gra = Blackish. An-taŭ-vi-di = To foresee. Gas-o-me-tro = Gasometer. Arm-il-far-ist-o = Gunsmith. Ĝar-den-la-bor-ad-o = Gardening. In-ter-ri-lat-o = Intercourse. Sen-la-bor-of-ic-o = Sinecure. Le-ter-pa-per-o = Note-paper.
18. Beginners should read aloud daily; at first slowly and slightly exaggerating the sounds, making free use of the organs of speech. It will then be
found that in more rapid utterance the exaggeration will gradually disappear, and a good, bold, free pronunciation be attained. (See "[Hints to Learners]," page 363.)
19. It is advisable that the student, before proceeding to the grammar, should get a thorough knowledge of the sounds of letters, syllables, and words; he should, therefore, read over the following list of words, which gives most of the combinations of sounds in the language. The italics denote where the tonic accent falls.
SCHEME OF PRONUNCIATION.
| Esperanto Letter. | |
|---|---|
| A = | ah is used to represent the a in father. |
| E = | eh (see par. [9]). |
| I = | ee is used to represent the ee in seen. |
| O = | o (see par. [9]). |
| U = | oo is used to represent the oo in fool. |
| Ŭ = | w is used to represent the w in wet. |
| G = | g is used to represent the g in go. |
| Ĝ = | dj is used to represent the g in George. |
| Ĥ = | hH is used to represent a very strong guttural aspirate |
| J = | y is used to represent the y in yes. |
| Ĵ = | zh is used to represent the s in pleasure. |