zerovowels

Zerovowels is a linguistic phenomenon where a word or phrase is written or spoken without the use of any vowel letters or sounds. While not a formal linguistic term in the same way as phonetics or morphology, it describes a specific type of wordplay or stylistic choice. This can occur intentionally for artistic or communication purposes, or sometimes as a result of specific transcription methods or informal writing styles.

The most common examples of zerovowels are found in internet slang and text messaging, where the omission of vowels can speed up typing and create a more concise form of communication. For instance, "txt" for "text" or "brb" for "be right back" are well-known instances of this practice. Beyond informal contexts, some historical or specialized writing systems might also exhibit characteristics that resemble zerovowels. The goal is often to convey meaning efficiently, relying on the reader's understanding of common word structures and context to fill in the missing vowel sounds or letters.