Lecture The Study of Intercultural Communication Key Terms

4.12 Assimilation and Acculturation
Assimilation is the degree to which an individual relinquishes an original culture for another. When individuals are assimilated into a mainstream cul­ture, they lose their previous culture. The assimilation process usually occurs as an immigrant gradually learns the language of the host culture, forms friendships with a network of host nationals rather than with fellow immigrants, becomes increasingly exposed to the mass media of the host nation, and gradually cuts ties and identification with the original homeland. This assimilation process may occur over two or more generations. Some cul­tures resist any acculturation into the host society even after many, many generations. Examples in the United States are Orthodox Jews and the Old Order Amish, who maintain their original culture. The Gypsies are another example.
Native Americans have suffered greatly from attitudes toward "strang­ers" and from earlier concerted efforts to bring about their assimilation. We have read briefly about the forced marches to reservations where Native Americans were isolated from the society that took their lands but rejected the people. Labels such as the "Five Civilized Tribes" were applied to the Choctaw, Chickasaw, Cherokee, Creek, and Seminole because of their strong cultural heritage, Christian influences, and "cooperation" with relocation efforts. In 1953 Congress passed House Concurrent Resolution 108 to terminate aid and protection to Native Americans. The belief was that Native Americans should leave tribal identities behind and assimilate into the general population. The only concrete results of the policy to assimilate were more lands lost by Native Americans.
Acculturation is the process through which an individual is socialized into a new culture while retaining many aspects of a previous culture. In contrast to assimilation, the acculturated individual becomes a mixture of two or more cultures. The process of acculturation incorpo­rates similar stages as the stranger modifies some aspects of the original cul­ture, retains others, and adopts some of the norms of the new culture. Accul­turation involves a less complete integration of an individual into the host culture than does assimilation.