In media studies academic papers I see sometimes the term ストーリー is used and
other times 物語 is used. I feel there might be a nuanced difference between the
two. Could someone explain scenarios when something is one but not the other?
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2021-12-24T08:00:23.393
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2022-01-27T19:02:05.270
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question
word-choice words
Difference between ストーリー and 物語
In terms of meaning, both are not so different. I think both can be translated
as _story_ in English, but sometimes (probably recently) they are used when
people want to emphasize the coherence of the whole story. They are more about
idiomatic expressions rather than nuances.

For example, typical examples may be like the following:

  * プレゼンにストーリーを持たせる
  * 物語としてのコロナ騒動

In these ストーリー/物語 are not interchangeable.

The former literally _let the presentation have a story_. The intended meaning
is that the presentation is given as a single coherent story in such a way
that it is understandable from the beginning to the end without (too much)
diversion.

As for the latter, it is literally _covid-19 as a story_ , and 物語として does not
really mean much. The whole phrase means that the prose is composed as a
single story rather than a collection of facts. It does have some connotations
that the story is partly fiction, but not necessarily that the whole story is
invented.

As a practical distinction, I have the impression that ストーリー is more
frequently used for expressions common in business contexts.

* * *

[A dictionary definition of
物語る](https://www.weblio.jp/content/%E7%89%A9%E8%AA%9E) has 'あるまとまった話をする。' . I
think this まとまった話 is the closest meaning in the above usage.
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2021-12-28T00:56:03.217
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_Story_ in English is a word that can refer to both the work/tale itself and
its plot/content. When you say "the plot of this story", _story_ refers to a
work. When you say "the story of this movie", _story_ refers to the plot.

In Japanese, both ストーリー and 物語 can refer to both a work itself and its plot.
But there are nuances you have to consider.

  * 物語 tends to refer to a work itself, and it's often a dramatic, long and/or old one ( _tale_ , _legend_...). It can also refer to the content of a work, but when it does, it functions more like _drama_ rather than _plot_.
  * ストーリー tends to refer to a plot. It can also refer to a work itself, but when it does, it's closer to (often short) _episode_.

For example, it's natural say この物語のストーリー referring to the plot of some
dramatic work (novel, movie, etc.), but このストーリーの物語 sounds a bit puzzling to
me.

Things like fairy tales, folklore and legends are almost certainly 物語, not
ストーリー. On the other hand, customer stories you can find on business websites
are not 物語 because it's short, modern and, um, businesslike.

When you visit the official website of a movie, you can find the ストーリー (or
あらすじ) section. It would be rare, if ever, to see 物語 in this situation.

この映画のストーリーに感動しました and この映画の物語に感動しました are almost the same. 彼の演説にはストーリーがあった
sounds to me like his speech was technically well-constructed, whereas
彼の演説には物語があった sounds to me like his speech was dramatic and heart-touching.
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