acculturation
acculturation — noun
1. the gradual process in which a person or a group adopts the customs, beliefs, an
the gradual process in which a person or a group adopts the customs, beliefs, and way of life of a different culture, especially after moving to a new country or living among people whose background is different from their own
The Vietnamese community in Melbourne experienced gradual acculturation, blending traditions with Australian customs over decades.
collocation: gradual acculturation
Schools help children's acculturation by teaching the language and rules of the new country.
Kofi's acculturation to Berlin was helped by neighbours and a job at a local bakery.
Researchers observed acculturation patterns of three Korean families in Los Angeles over five years.
- assimilation
stronger meaning; assumes the original culture is fully replaced by the new one
- integration
focuses on participation in the new society while maintaining one's own cultural identity
- adaptation
more general term; applies to any adjustment to new conditions, not only cultural
- cultural isolation
staying separate from the dominant culture and not adopting its ways
- separation
choosing to remain apart from the new culture rather than engaging with it
用法筆記
Used mainly in sociology, anthropology, and cross-cultural studies. Unlike assimilation, acculturation does not necessarily imply giving up one's original cultural identity — it refers to learning and adopting features of a new culture while possibly keeping elements of one's own.