tellbaar

Tellbaar is a term used in narrative studies to describe the property of a memory, event, or piece of information that makes it appropriate or feasible to disclose in a given social setting. It concerns whether sharing something aligns with ethical norms, relational boundaries, and the likely impact on listeners. Tellbaar is not a measure of factual truth but of social feasibility and responsibility in telling.

Originating from Dutch-language usage, tellbaar combines a root related to telling with a suffix denoting capability. The term has been adopted in English-language scholarship to analyze how social contexts—such as audience, setting, and cultural norms—shape what may be disclosed. In practice, researchers apply tellbaar to evaluate disclosures across memoirs, interviews, journalism, and therapeutic narratives.

Analysts assess tellbaar using criteria such as the intended audience, the narrator’s purpose, potential harm or benefit, consent of those involved, timing, and whether disclosure serves a constructive communicative aim or merely exposes the speaker. The concept emphasizes audience effects, power dynamics, and the responsibilities of narrators when handling sensitive or traumatic material.

Critiques argue that tellbaar can be overly context-dependent or normative, risking the suppression of legitimate speech or stifling emergent, collective storytelling. Proponents counter that it provides a practical framework for navigating disclosure with attention to ethics, care, and social consequence.

See also: tellability; disclosure; narrative ethics; privacy.