Storytelling in the Heritage Language: Khmer Language in Cambodia

This paper explores the significance of storytelling in preserving Cambodia’s Khmer language and cultural identity. Using a narrative review and a conceptual-analytical approach, it engages with the literature on Khmer oral history, language preservation, Buddhist moral education, and the Cambodian diaspora in a globalised, digital context. The study examines traditional and modern Khmer storytelling, highlighting their linguistic and ethical roles throughout colonial, postcolonial, and global changes. While language preservation remains central, storytelling also functions as an ethical and cultural metaphor for Khmer people. Additionally, the paper discusses how globalisation, new technologies, and diasporic communities influence storytelling practices, promoting adaptive preservation through digital tools and transnational narratives. Ultimately, it demonstrates how storytelling serves as an educational and cultural tool for maintaining the Khmer language and Cambodian cultural identity, with new technologies enabling it to adapt and persist.