John Z'graggen (bornHans Anton Z'graggen on 24 June 1932 inSchattdorf,Canton of Uri, Switzerland; died 20 May 2013 inMenzingen, Switzerland) was a Swiss Roman Catholic priest, missionary,linguist, andanthropologist known for his extensive work onPapuan andOceanic languages, especially theMadang languages.^[1] He has also documented languages in Sepik,Manus, andGulf Provinces.^[2][3]

Z'graggen attendedSt. Gabriel College atMödling, where he graduated with a Diploma in Ethnology in 1961. He moved toMadang in 1963, where he then began documenting the localMadang languages. In 1965 or 1966, he enrolled at theAustralian National University, where he completed the doctoral thesisClassificatory and typological studies in the languages of Madang District in 1969. The dissertation was published in 1971 with additional field data.^[4]

In 1981, he joined the newly foundedDivine Word Institute (DWI; later renamed as theDivine Word University). He founded and directed the DWI Research Centre in 1984. Z'graggen continued to do research on Madang anthropology and linguistics until he was assigned to return to Switzerland in 1991.^[4]

Many of Z'graggen's tape recordings and field notes are kept at theBasel Museum of Cultures, as well as at the Divine Word University in Madang.^[4]

Z'graggen collected numerous word lists ofMadang languages, many of which have been published as monographs byPacific Linguistics:

• 1975.The languages of the Madang District, Papua New Guinea. Canberra: Pacific Linguistics.doi:10.15144/PL-B41
• 1980.A comparative word list of theRai Coast languages, Madang Province, Papua New Guinea. Canberra: Pacific Linguistics.doi:10.15144/PL-D30
• 1980.A comparative word list of theNorthern Adelbert Range languages, Madang Province, Papua New Guinea. Canberra: Pacific Linguistics.doi:10.15144/PL-D31
• 1980.A comparative word list of theMabuso languages, Madang Province, Papua New Guinea. Canberra: Pacific Linguistics.doi:10.15144/PL-D32
• 1980.A comparative word list of theSouthern Adelbert Range languages, Madang Province, Papua New Guinea. Canberra: Pacific Linguistics.doi:10.15144/PL-D33

Selected book chapters:

• 1975. TheMadang-Adelbert Range sub-phylum. In New Guinea area languages and language study, vol. 1:Papuan languages and the New Guinea linguistic scene, ed. by S. A. Wurm, 569–612. Canberra: Pacific Linguistics.doi:10.15144/PL-C38.569
• 1975. (withDonald C. Laycock) TheSepik-Ramu Phylum. InNew Guinea area languages and language study, vol. 1: Papuan languages and the New Guinea linguistic scene, ed. by S. A. Wurm, 731–763. Canberra: Pacific Linguistics.doi:10.15144/PL-C38.731

Z'graggen has written prolifically on the mythology and cosmology of the Madang peoples. Some of his books on Madang mythology are:

• 1992.And thus became man and world. Pentland Press.
• 1995.Creation through death and deception. Pentland Press.
• 1996.And thus became God. Pentland Press.
• 2011.The Lady Daria and Mister Kamadonga: A legend of Papua New Guinea. Crawford House Australia.

• 1932 births
• 2013 deaths
• Linguists from Switzerland
• People from the canton of Uri
• Linguists of Papuan languages
• Linguists of Oceanic languages
• Missionary linguists
• Australian National University alumni
• Linguists of Madang languages
• 20th-century Swiss linguists
• 20th-century Swiss Roman Catholic priests
• 21st-century Swiss Roman Catholic priests

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