Vanessa Miranda Juarez

Vanessa Miranda Juarez is a socio-cultural and linguistic anthropologist working as a Postdoctoral Researcher at the Department of Cross-Cultural and Regional Studies, University of Copenhagen. Her research centers on language documentation and linguistic ethnography, with a focus on indigenous languages of Mexico, particularly Nahuatl, Wixárika, and Náayeri.

Her educational qualifications include:

• Ph.D. in Linguistic Anthropology, University of Massachusetts, Amherst
• M.A. in Anthropology, Institute of Anthropological Research, UNAM
• B.A. in Socio-cultural Anthropology

Vanessa's research interests encompass Language Documentation, Linguistic Ethnography, Discourse Analysis, and the study of Linguistic Ideologies, with particular attention to Race, Indigeneity and Language. She examines how language is deployed in political contexts and community assemblies among Nahua communities, and she is actively involved in documenting mythological narratives and developing lexicographical resources for endangered indigenous languages.

Her recent publications (2005-2024) demonstrate a sustained commitment to Nahuatl language and culture, expanding to include Wixárika and Náayeri. Her work integrates linguistic analysis with sociopolitical critique, highlighting language as a tool for resistance and identity formation. Key contributions include analyses of political speech in Nahuatl, documentation of oral traditions, and studies on language displacement and revitalization.