(a) All untranslated proper nouns, such as personal or place names,
start with a stressed syllable (e.g., Liga = Lee-gu). Where a name
has more than two syllables, the first and third are stressed in
order to maintain the iambic metre (e.g., Spidala = Spee-du-lu).
(b) The letter "o" is a diphthong ("oo-oh" or "oh-u"). However, as
a rule I have adopted a shortened diphthong, to avoid giving the
single letter "o" two syllables. Thus, it is usually pronounced
"wo". For example, the name of the Messenger of the Gods,
"Vaidelots", is pronounced "Vy-du-lwots", "Perkons" is pronounced
"Pah-kwons", and so on. Despite what has just been said, Laimdota is
pronounced "Laim-dwo-tu", and "Koknesis" is pronounced
"Kwok-ness-is", whereas Spidala is always pronounced "Spee-du-lu".
(c) The letter combination "ie" is also a diphthong, and is
pronounced "ee e". Thus, the letters "liel" (as in "Lielvarde") are
pronounced "Lee-ell".
(d) A final "e" is pronounced. Thus, for instance, "Lielvarde" is
pronounced "Lee-ell-var-de".
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