Crossing Linguistic Borders: The Dynamics of Code-Switching in “Encanto”

“Encanto” (2021) presents an opportunity to explore bilingual communication within a popular Disney animated movie. Set in Colombia, the movie features a multilingual family, making it an ideal subject for analyzing code-switching. This research is strictly focused on understanding the linguistic functions of code-switching as portrayed in the movie’s scripted dialogue. The study aims to deepen our comprehension of bilingual dynamics in media, emphasizing how these linguistic phenomena are crafted and utilized in animated films that reach a diverse, global audience. The research employs a mixed-method approach, combining qualitative content analysis with linguistic analysis. The collected data encompass phrases, utterances, and sentences that exhibit code-switching. This approach aims to thoroughly understand the linguistic strategies used in the scripted dialogue of “Encanto”, analyzing the functional aspects of code-switching as a linguistic phenomenon. Theoretical frameworks established by Poplack (1980) and Koziol (2000) guide the identification and categorization of code-switching types and functions, respectively, framing the analysis within established linguistic models. The movie showcased a balanced mix of inter-sentential, intra-sentential, and tag-switching, each employed strategically within the scripted dialogue. These techniques were used to enhance storytelling and emphasize emotional moments, reflecting the characters’ bilingual identities. A significant finding was the prevalence of designation and personalization functions, demonstrating how code-switching in “Encanto” often served to express familial bonds. This analysis primarily highlights the linguistic dynamics and mechanisms of code-switching in a fictional context.