> A very bright idea, and consistent with the general relation
>between tone and quality in Lithuanian. Juozas, is it the case than
>under a circumflex the [e] or [o] is clearer and longer, while under
>an acute there's great emphasis on [i] or [u] and the rest of the
>diphthong is schwa-like?

Theoretically, yes. But practically it's impossible to distinguish
whether the speaker is emphasizing the first or the second part of
the diphtongs "ie" and "uo" (although the varying pitch accent in the
diphtongs "ai, au, ei" is audible). Can you believe that the simple
long [o:] is also said to have either falling or rising pitch accent?
This is crazy: I can't see any constituents in [o:], except for the
long "o":) Maybe the emphases can be measured with sensible sound
recording software but it's certainly unattainable to human ear.

Juozas Rimas