Associate Professor of Spanish Linguistics
Department of Literatures, Languages & Cultures
University of California Merced
Email: dmagana6@ucmerced.edu
Dalia Magaña (Ph.D., Spanish Linguistics, University of California at Davis) is an Associate Professor of Spanish Linguistics at the University of California, Merced. Her research focuses on improving healthcare communication with Spanish speakers and developing intentional language pedagogy. Her studies, published in journals including Applied Linguistics, Discourse & Communication, and Health Communication, raise awareness about the role of interpersonal language in improving healthcare communication with local communities of Spanish speakers. Her first book, “Building Confianza: Empowering Latinx Patients Through Transcultural Interactions” (2021), argues that effective doctor–patient communication in Spanish requires practitioners who have transcultural knowledge of Latinos’ values and sociolinguistic awareness of their language use. In collaboration with a team of linguists, she co-authored a book, “Health Disparities and the Applied Linguist” (2022), which bridges theory and practice to demonstrate how applied linguists are uniquely positioned to make vital contributions toward advancing health equity in the US.