James Hafford

Dr. James Hafford is an Assistant Professor at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, specializing in linguistics with a focus on Austronesian and Papuan languages. He is renowned for his work on the Wuvulu language of Papua New Guinea (PNG), including the completion of the Wuvulu New Testament in 2005. He has also been actively involved in language documentation, translation, and literacy programs, collaborating with organizations like Wycliffe Bible Translators and SIL PNG.

• Education: Ph.D. (2015, UHM), M.A. (1999, UTA), B.A. (1983, Computer Science)

His research interests span historical linguistics, morphosyntax, and sociolinguistics, with particular attention to phonological processes and grammatical description. He has mentored Wuvulu Old Testament translators remotely using satellite technology and Paratext software. Courses taught include Morphosyntax I and Historical & Comparative Linguistics.

Publications include seminal works on Wuvulu grammar, phonology, and pidgin/creole studies. He is fluent in English, Tok Pisin, and Wuvulu, with studied knowledge of German, Greek, and Hebrew.