Previously you learned that the softening vowel i becomes mute when it is put before one of the vowels A, Ą, O, U, Ų and Ū.

When it is put before A and Ą, the combinations IA and IĄ sound very much like E and Ę. Actually, there should be no difference between E and IA; Ę and IĄ. For example, galia (power) should be pronounced as [gale]; galią should be pronounced as [galę].