Abstract

Sonic Humanities examines the intersection of sound archives, listening practices, and cultural memory, 
positioning sound as a critical medium through which societies preserve, interpret, and negotiate their histories 
and identities. This study explores how sound archives function as repositories of collective memory, cultural 
heritage, and historical knowledge while highlighting the processes of selection, preservation, cataloguing, 
accessibility, and destruction that shape what becomes audible or forgotten. It investigates listening practices as 
socially and culturally embedded activities that influence how individuals and communities experience, interpret, 
and transmit sonic histories. Drawing on interdisciplinary perspectives from sound studies, anthropology, archival 
studies, digital humanities, and cultural memory theory, the study demonstrates that sound is not merely an 
artistic or sensory phenomenon but a primary source for understanding social relations, migration, identity 
formation, political struggles, and community experiences. The paper further examines technological 
transformations, including digitization and generative auditory data, which have expanded access to sonic 
materials while creating new ethical, legal, and preservation challenges. It emphasizes the importance of inclusive 
archival practices, Indigenous sound knowledge, community participation, and equitable access in shaping future 
sonic humanities research. Ultimately, Sonic Humanities provides a framework for understanding how sound 
archives and listening practices contribute to the preservation of cultural memory and the continuous 
reconstruction of collective identities in changing social and technological environments.