acculturation
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GC: n

S: PMC – https://bit.ly/2PoOlx8 (last access: 11 November 2018); THCO – https://bit.ly/2ODYCR5 (last access: 11 November 2018).

N: 1. “the adoption and assimilation of an alien culture” (Oxford Dictionary), 1880, from assimilated form of ad- “to” + culture (n.) + noun ending -ation.
2. Cultural modification of an individual, group, or people by adapting to or borrowing traits from another culture; also : a merging of cultures as a result of prolonged contact; the process by which a human being acquires the culture of a particular society from infancy.
3. What we in the developed world call civilization is rapidly encroaching on indigenous communities, just as it is encroaching on the plants, and native botanical lore is usually an early casualty. In only one generation, acculturation can lead to the disappearance of botanical knowledge acquired over millennia.
4. What is the difference between enculturation and acculturation?

  • Both enculturation and acculturation are processes of socialization taking place in a society.
  • Whereas enculturation is a process that helps an individual to imbibe social values, norms, customs etc. of the culture he lives in, acculturation is a two way change process that takes placed when there is a meeting of two cultures.
  • In acculturation there are changes felt in both cultures though mostly it is the minority culture that gets changed by way of changed language, clothing, customs and practices.
  • Enculturation helps an individual to survive and better fit into the culture he finds himself surrounded.
  • No difference between the two terms is accepted in some countries where acculturation is considered as same as enculturation.

S: 1. OED – https://bit.ly/2qGbXi1 (last access: 11 November 2018). 2 & 3. TERMIUM PLUS – https://bit.ly/2RIjHLS (last access: 11 November 2018). 4. DB – https://bit.ly/2RKMjEk (last access: 11 November 2018).

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CR: cultural exchange, cultural identity, interculturality, migration.