Vianne Basulto

MA
Linguistics

Vianne is an MA student in the Department of Linguistics interested in Uto-Aztecan morphosyntax, especially that of the Nahua and Takic branches. Vianne received her BA in linguistics from the University of Chicago, where she studied "Classical" and Eastern Huasteca Nahuatl for three years, as well as Mexican codices and colonial history. In 2024, Vianne had the opportunity to attend the University of Utah Intensive Nahuatl Language and Culture Program, where she improved her speaking skills and immersed  herself in Nahua culture. Vianne has also had broader interests in language documentation and language revitalization.  

"I started studying Nahuatl after a chance encounter with a Nahuatl study group poster in the Regenstein Library at UChicago. I quickly fell in love with the language, admiring its logical composition and poetic compounds. This introduced a spark into my academic life just when I was feeling lost in my path and struggling with motivation. Studying Nahuatl has been incredibly fulfilling, and through my pursuit of this language, I have also found a meaningful way to connect with my Mexican heritage. At UNM, I hope my Nahuatl studies will aid in creating resources for anyone interested in Nahuatl as well as the dormant and/or understudied languages within the Uto-Aztecan language family."