Assimilation: meaning, definitions and examples

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assimilation

[əˌsɪməˈleɪʃən ]

Definitions

^{Context #1 | Noun}

cultural

The process of adapting or adjusting to the customs, attitudes, or values of a different cultural group. It involves blending in with the dominant culture while still maintaining aspects of one's original culture.

Synonyms

acculturation, adaptation, integration.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
assimilation	Assimilation is used when a person or group gradually adopts the customs and attitudes of another culture, often losing their original identity. This term can sometimes have a negative connotation as it may imply the erasure of one's original cultural identity. Over generations, the community experienced assimilation into the dominant culture, losing many of their traditional practices. The language policy promoted the assimilation of various linguistic groups into the national language.
integration	Integration refers to the process of combining different groups into a unified whole while respecting the diversity of the groups involved. It often has positive connotations of inclusiveness and multiculturalism. The city's integration policies helped create a more inclusive and diverse community. Successful integration into the school system requires support for both new students and the existing community.
acculturation	Acculturation refers to the process of adopting the cultural traits or social patterns of another group while still maintaining aspects of the original culture. It is a mutual cultural exchange. Through acculturation, immigrants often retain their unique cultural traditions while adopting some practices from the new culture. Acculturation can be seen in the fusion cuisine that blends elements of different food traditions.
adaptation	Adaptation is used to describe the process of adjusting or modifying one’s behavior or ways of doing things to better suit a new environment or situation. It doesn’t necessarily involve cultural change. Moving to a different climate required quick adaptation to the new weather conditions. Her adaptation to the new job role was impressive, considering the short time she had.

Examples of usage

Assimilation of immigrants into American society is a complex and ongoing process.
Many second-generation immigrants experience a sense of assimilation as they navigate between their heritage and the mainstream culture.

^{Context #2 | Linguistics}

phonetics

The modification of a sound by its neighboring sounds. It can involve changing the sound to become more similar to a neighboring sound, such as the pronunciation of 'handbag' as /hæmbæɡ/ due to the influence of the following /b/ sound.

Synonyms

phonetic modification, sound change.

Examples of usage

In the word 'input', the assimilation of the /n/ sound to become more like the following /p/ sound is a common phonetic process.

Interesting Facts

Etymology

The term comes from the Latin word 'assimilare', which means 'to make similar'.
Originally used in the context of science to describe how substances mix together.
In social science, it began to be used in the late 19th century to describe how immigrants adapt to new cultures.

Cultural Studies

Assimilation can involve changes in language, dress, food preferences, and social behaviors.
In multicultural societies, the degree of assimilation can vary greatly, leading to layers of cultural identity.
Challenges can arise, as individuals may feel they lose aspects of their original culture while assimilating.

Psychology

The process is often analyzed in terms of cognitive psychology, where new information is integrated into existing frameworks.
Studies show that assimilation can lead to reduced stress and increased mental well-being for individuals in a new environment.
However, it can also create internal conflict for those managing dual identities.

History

Colonial powers often enforced assimilation policies to integrate indigenous populations into a dominant culture.
The Civil Rights Movement highlighted the push against forced assimilation and the importance of cultural preservation.
Historical events, such as the Vietnam War, significantly impacted the assimilation of Southeast Asian refugees in the U.S.

Education

Classroom settings often utilize assimilation techniques to help students from diverse backgrounds integrate.
Language immersion programs can be effective in promoting assimilation by helping non-native speakers learn the dominant language early.
Debates about assimilation in education often center around maintaining cultural heritage versus promoting unity within diverse student bodies.

Translations

Translations of the word "assimilation" in other languages:

🇵🇹 assimilação

🇮🇳 अवशोषण

🇩🇪 Assimilation

🇮🇩 asimilasi

🇺🇦 асиміляція

🇵🇱 asymilacja

🇯🇵 同化 (どうか)

🇫🇷 assimilation

🇪🇸 asimilación

🇹🇷 asimilasyon

🇰🇷 동화 (동화)

🇸🇦 استيعاب

🇨🇿 asimilace

🇸🇰 asimilácia

🇨🇳 同化 (tónghuà)

🇸🇮 asimilacija

🇮🇸 samþætting

🇰🇿 ассимиляция

🇬🇪 ასიმილაცია

🇦🇿 assimilyasiya

🇲🇽 asimilación

Word Frequency Rank

Position #8,901 indicates this is an advanced-level word. While not essential for basic communication, it will enhance your ability to understand and create more nuanced content.

...
8898 exposing
8899 classify
8900 astonishment
8901 assimilation
8902 inertia
8903 engrossed
8904 nationals
...