Salalah – The National Records and Archives Authority (NRAA) has stepped up efforts to document oral history and preserve endangered languages. 

On Monday, the authority honoured narrators who contributed to documenting the Bathari language at a ceremony in Shuwaymiyah in the wilayat of Shaleem and Hallaniyat Islands.

In parallel, NRAA’s Oral History Team continues field visits across several governorates to record testimonies of elderly citizens, pioneers and community figures. The initiative is part of a national programme to safeguard cultural heritage and transmit collective memory to future generations.

Officials said oral accounts help complete the historical and social record by documenting aspects of daily life and societal change that are often absent from written sources. The material captures economic, social and cultural transformations through first-hand testimony, strengthening the depth and reliability of archival content.

The team is targeting diverse segments of society across a wide geographical area to ensure comprehensive coverage. Interviews are conducted using structured scientific methodologies, including audio and video recording, documentation and digital archiving. Authorities said this approach ensures long-term preservation and accessibility through modern digital platforms aligned with the country’s broader digital transformation in records management.

The event in Shuwaymiyah highlighted efforts to preserve Oman’s linguistic heritage.

Sheikh Abdul Hakim al Rashidi, Wali of Shaleem and Hallaniyat Islands, said, “Multilingualism is an important element of cultural diversity and plays a key role in preserving identity and heritage.” He added that Oman’s linguistic diversity reflects the depth of its cultural legacy.

Dr Talib bin Saif al Khadouri, Director General of Research and Records Circulation at NRAA, said the Bathari documentation project is part of the Oral History Department’s programmes to preserve Omani languages and dialects at risk of extinction.

Bathari is an indigenous language spoken in the desert areas of Dhofar, particularly in Shaleem and Hallaniyat Islands, as well as parts of Al Wusta. It is primarily an oral language and is linguistically related to Harsusi, Mehri and Shahri (Jibali), indicating a shared origin within the Modern South Arabian language group.