Vowel duration in pre-geminate contexts in Polish

The study presents Polish experimental data on the variability of vowel duration in the context of following singleton and geminate consonants. The aim of the study is to explain the low vocalic variability values obtained from "rhythm metrics" based analyses of speech rhythm. It also aims at contributing to the discussion about current dynamical models of speech rhythm that contain assumptions of the relative temporal stability of the vowel-to-vowel sequence. The results suggest that vowels in Polish co-vary with following consonant length in a roughly proportionate manner. An interpretation of the effect is offered where a fortition process overrides the possibility of temporal compensation.