«You just healed my hand with an arepa con queso». The figurative power of L3 food terms in shaping ethnically diverse identities in American multilingual animated films and their Italian dubbed version

The paper investigates how ethnic food terms in American animated films contribute to shaping ethnically diverse identities, focusing on films that describe minority cultures with languages other than English (L3s) in addition to English and their Italian dubbed versions. Examining 32 films released between 1991 and 2023, the paper explores how L3 food terms, primarily referring to traditional dishes, help convey the sociocultural backgrounds of characters. These terms appear in dialogue, song lyrics, and visual elements, adding authenticity to characters’ cultural identities. The paper clarifies that food references help offer a wide perspective: they reflect ethnic identity, strengthen in-group relationships, convey emotions, and foster connections among characters.