John B. Haviland

John B. Haviland is a Professor in the Department of Anthropology at the University of California San Diego (UCSD), where he has conducted extensive research in linguistic anthropology. He is the founder and former director (2005–2019) of UCSD’s Linguistic Anthropology Laboratory, a hub for multimodal interaction research. His work is centered on indigenous languages, particularly Tzotzil in Mexico and several Aboriginal languages in Australia.

His research interests include the social life of language, gesture, emerging sign languages, ethnomusicology, and language and the law. He has made significant contributions to the documentation of endangered languages, including the Barrow Point language, and has authored influential works such as Old Man Fog and the Last Aborigines of Barrow Point. He developed a pedagogical grammar for Tzotzil and has collaborated on major linguistic resources like Robert M. Laughlin’s Tzotzil-Spanish dictionary.

His recent scholarly focus involves the study of 'Z', an emerging sign language (Zinacantec Family Homesign) in a Mayan community, exploring its grammatical and interactional foundations. This body of work reflects a trend toward understanding language origins and multimodal communication in naturalistic settings.

• Founder and Director of the Linguistic Anthropology Laboratory (2005–2019)
• Expert witness and qualified legal/health interpreter for Tzotzil
• Active in fieldwork with Amuzgo speakers in Oaxaca and California

His work bridges academic research and practical application, particularly in indigenous rights and language preservation. He has hosted numerous seminars and workshops, contributing to a vibrant research community at UCSD.