Natalie Rangel

Natalie Rangel, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Modern Languages and Literatures at the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA), affiliated with the College of Liberal and Fine Arts. Her research focuses on sociolinguistics, particularly South Texas/Borderland Spanish, heritage languages, and code-switching dynamics.

• Education: B.A. and M.A. from Texas A&M University–College Station; Ph.D. in Spanish Linguistics from the University of Texas at Austin

Rangel’s work examines language attitudes and social stratification in South Texas communities. Recent studies analyze uptalk intonation in Spanish and its sociolinguistic implications in Laredo. She advocates for heritage language preservation and highlights the political and cultural significance of Spanish in U.S. borderlands.

Her publications emphasize sociolinguistic diversity in Texas border towns, with methodological focus on implicit attitudes and phonological features. Rangel plans to expand research on under-documented linguistic practices in South Texas.