Narrative - Technical Definition Offered by Paul McKean

Paul McKean

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I turn today to Paul McKean's technical piece on "Narrative" (Concepts in Communication Study, August 2012), which is interesting for me if not for others:

Definition and Etymology

The word narrative is likely derived from the Latin words narrāre, meaning to relate or recount, and narrātiō, which refers to a story, a tale, or a section of a speech establishing the facts of a case (Oxford English Dictionary, 2012, n.p.). According to the Oxford English Dictionary (2012), one of the oldest uses of narrative was in a legal context, meaning "A part of a legal document which contains a statement of alleged or relevant facts closely connected with the matter or purpose of the document" (n.p.).

In some contexts such as the study of literature and literary criticism, narrative has been defined narrowly as a series of events or facts within a story. For example, Jahn (2005) defines narrative as "a form of communication which presents a sequence of events caused and experienced by characters" (n.p.). This usage can be traced back in English to the late sixteenth century (Oxford English Dictionary, 2012, n.p.).

Narrative has been studied in such fields as: rhetoric, literary theory, philosophy, history (see for example: White, 1980), psychology, political communication, journalism, studies of folklore, persuasion theory, and media studies.

Bibliography

Jahn, M. (2005). Narratology: a guide to the theory of narrative. English Department, University of Cologne. Retrieved from http://www.uni-koeln.de/~ame02/pppn.htm

Narration. (n.d.) In Oxford English Dictionary online. Retrieved from http://dictionary.oed.com

Narrative. (n.d.) In Oxford English Dictionary online. Retrieved from http://dictionary.oed.com

White, H. (1980). The value of narrativity in the representation of reality. Critical Inquiry. 7(1), 5-27.

There's more at the site if any reader should happen to have an interest. The article is not especially long. My interest lies in these words:

"In some contexts such as the study of literature and literary criticism, narrative has been defined narrowly as a series of events or facts within a story."

One can't get a much more concise definition than that, other than by pruning that long introductory expression:

"narrative has been defined narrowly as a series of events or facts within a story."

Actually, I believe I can prune some more:

"narrative has been defined as a series of events or facts within a story."

Even shorter:

"narrative, a series of events or facts within a story."

Another cut:

"narrative, a series of events within a story."

One more time:

"narrative, a series of events in a story."

Or even:

"narrative, a story's series of events."

I believe I've pruned this far enough . . .