Elena Benedicto

Elena Benedicto is a Professor in the Department of English at Purdue University. A faculty member since 1997, she directs the Indigenous and Endangered Languages Lab (IELLab) and contributes to interdisciplinary programs including Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, Classics, and Medieval and Renaissance Studies.

• Ph.D. in linguistics and syntax from the University of Massachusetts-Amherst
• Ph.D. and bachelor’s in Latin syntax from Universitat de Barcelona

Her research bridges theoretical syntax and methodological/ethical issues in linguistic fieldwork, with a focus on endangered languages like Mayangna (Nicaragua) and sign languages (ASL, LSCu, LIS). Key themes include:

• Reference frames and spatial cognition
• Verbal classifier systems
• Participatory Action Research (PAR)
• Language revitalization
• Sociolinguistic dynamics
• Cultural transmission of knowledge

Her publications span formal syntactic analysis and ethical frameworks for community-driven research, reflecting collaborations across institutions and Indigenous groups. She teaches courses in syntax, field methods, and Native American languages.