student asking question

Can I use "story" instead of "tale"? Why did she say "tale"?

teacher

Native speaker’s answer

Rebecca

Yes, you probably could use "story" instead, however these two words are slightly different in meaning. A "tale" is almost always fictitious and contains magic, folklore, and beasts. The main character also usually has to complete several tasks in order to achieve his or her goal. In this show, she says "I've heard tales of your kind, Witcher." She is telling Geralt that she has heard of the tasks Witchers have completed and what they are capable of. She may have said tale because the writers may have thought it fit better with the show than "stories." A "story" can be either fictitious or true. The main character usually has to complete one task to achieve his or her goal.

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