Tellability

Tellability is a concept used in narrative studies, sociology, and anthropology to describe the quality of an event or story that makes it appropriate to tell in social interaction. A tellable event is one that listeners find relevant, engaging, or emotionally salient given the audience and context.

Tellability arises from the interaction of storyteller, listeners, and situational frame. Factors include novelty, significance, emotional or humorous impact, moral or practical implications, and the potential for social bonding. Very private or trivial events may be untellable; events that illuminate shared concerns or reinforce group norms are more likely to be shared.

Tellability influences both what counts as a story and how it is told. Storytellers may choose details, frame the event, and adjust tone to heighten engagement, while listeners signal interest or retreat. The concept is used to analyze everyday conversations, oral histories, and media practices, highlighting that telling is a social act conditioned by audience and context.

Variation exists across cultures and social groups; tellability depends on norms about privacy, reciprocity, and the purpose of telling. Researchers study tellability with discourse analysis and ethnography to understand how people manage disclosure and relationship maintenance.