Paul Newman (linguist)

Paul Newman (1937-2023) was a distinguished linguist specializing in the Hausa language and other Chadic languages of West Africa. He was a leading authority on Hausa phonology, morphology, syntax, and lexicon, and made significant contributions to the reconstruction of Proto-Chadic.

Newman received his Ph.D. in linguistics from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) in 1967. He subsequently held faculty positions at Yale University and Indiana University, where he remained for the majority of his career until his retirement.

His publications include numerous books, articles, and monographs on Hausa and Chadic linguistics. His most influential works include "A Grammar of Tera" (1977), "Modern Hausa-English Dictionary" (1977, co-authored with Roxana Ma Newman), "The Hausa Language: An Encyclopedic Reference Grammar" (2000), and "An English-Hausa Dictionary" (2007). These works are considered standard references in the field.

Newman's research significantly advanced the understanding of the genetic relationships within the Chadic language family and its place within Afroasiatic. He was known for his meticulous scholarship, clear writing style, and dedication to fieldwork and language documentation.

Beyond his scholarly contributions, Newman was a respected teacher and mentor who influenced generations of linguists specializing in African languages. He received numerous awards and honors throughout his career for his contributions to the field of linguistics.