monovocal

Monovocal refers to a literary constraint where a text is written using only one vowel. This technique, also known as a univocalic or a vowel-restricted text, forces the author to select words that adhere to the single chosen vowel. For example, a monovocalic text using only the vowel 'a' would exclude words containing 'e', 'i', 'o', or 'u'.

The challenge of monovocalic writing lies in maintaining coherence and meaning while navigating such a severe limitation. Authors must be highly creative in their vocabulary selection and sentence construction. This constraint can lead to unique stylistic effects, sometimes producing an archaic or dreamlike quality due to the restricted word choices.

The practice is often seen as a form of lipogram, which is a text that omits a specific letter or group of letters. While lipograms typically focus on consonants, monovocalics specifically target vowels. The term "monovocalic" itself is an example of the technique, using only the vowel 'o'.

Notable examples of monovocalic works exist in various languages, though they are less common than other forms of literary constraint. The creation of such texts requires significant linguistic skill and patience. It is a form of experimental literature that explores the boundaries of language and creativity.