acculturation
gb/ˈækˈʌlt͡ʃɚˈeɪʃən/ us/ˈækˈʌlt͡ʃɚˈeɪʃən/
C1
English
Senses
0 senses
Noun
formal
C1
process
1
Adaptation to another culture
the process of getting used to and taking on parts of a new culture
Usage pattern:
usually uncountable; [someone's/a group's] acculturation to/into [a culture/society]
Common mistake:
Do not confuse acculturation with assimilation. Assimilation often suggests giving up the original culture; acculturation can include adapting while keeping it.
Synonyms
cultural adaptation (plainer and broader; emphasizes adjusting to a culture)
|
integration (emphasizes becoming part of a society, not only cultural learning)
|
assimilation (often implies becoming like the dominant group and losing original cultural differences)
Antonyms
cultural retention (emphasizes keeping one's original culture rather than adopting another)
|
cultural separation (emphasizes remaining apart from another culture)
Collocations
the process of acculturation
|immigrant acculturation
|acculturation to a new culture
|acculturation into society
|levels of acculturation
|degree of acculturation
|patterns of acculturation
|acculturation experiences
|language acculturation
|successful acculturation
Themes
culture
|immigration
|sociology
|psychology
|education
Examples
- The study examined acculturation among teenagers whose families had recently moved to Canada.
- Her acculturation to life in Japan was helped by language classes and supportive coworkers.
- Schools can play an important role in the acculturation of refugee children.
Learner examples
- Acculturation takes time after moving to a new country.
- Language learning is part of acculturation.
Noun
technical
C2
process
2
Cultural change through contact
changes in cultures when different groups have long contact with each other
Usage pattern:
acculturation between [groups]; the acculturation of [a culture/group] through contact with [another group]
Common mistake:
This use is about contact between cultures, not simply learning facts about another culture.
Synonyms
cultural exchange (more neutral and everyday; often suggests two-way sharing)
|
cultural diffusion (more technical; emphasizes the spread of cultural traits)
|
cultural change (broader; does not necessarily involve contact between cultures)
Antonyms
cultural isolation (absence of sustained contact with other cultures)
|
cultural preservation (maintenance of existing traditions rather than change through contact)
Collocations
cultural acculturation
|mutual acculturation
|patterns of acculturation
|evidence of acculturation
|colonial acculturation
|indigenous acculturation
|cross-cultural acculturation
|acculturation between groups
Themes
culture
|anthropology
|history
|sociology
Examples
- Anthropologists found evidence of acculturation in the community's food, clothing, and religious practices.
- Trade routes encouraged acculturation between coastal societies.
- Colonial rule often produced unequal forms of acculturation.
Learner examples
- Acculturation can happen when two cultures live side by side.
- Food traditions often change through acculturation.
Grammar
Dictionary form
acculturation
IPA
GB/ˈækˈʌlt͡ʃɚˈeɪʃən/
US/ˈækˈʌlt͡ʃɚˈeɪʃən/
Syllables & stress
ac - cul - tur - a - tion (5 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (ac)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: acculturation
- Plural: acculturation
Expressions
acculturation gap
1/ˈækˈʌlt͡ʃɚˈeɪʃən ɡˈæp/
fixed phrase
technical
Difference in cultural adaptation
a difference between family members in how much they have adapted to a new culture
Examples
- An acculturation gap can create tension when children adopt local customs faster than their parents.
- Researchers studied the parent-child acculturation gap in immigrant households.
- Family programs can help reduce conflict caused by an acculturation gap.
acculturation strategy
1/ˈækˈʌlt͡ʃɚˈeɪʃən stɹˈætəd͡ʒi/
fixed phrase
technical
Approach to cultural adaptation
a way of dealing with life between an old culture and a new culture
Examples
- Integration is often discussed as an acculturation strategy that values both the heritage culture and the new society.
- The survey asked students which acculturation strategy best described their experience.
- An acculturation strategy may change over time as social conditions change.
acculturation stress
1/ˈækˈʌlt͡ʃɚˈeɪʃən stɹˈɛs/
fixed phrase
technical
Stress from cultural adaptation
stress that comes from trying to live in and adapt to a different culture
Examples
- Language barriers and loneliness can increase acculturation stress among international students.
- The clinic offers counseling for families dealing with acculturation stress.
- Acculturation stress may be worse when newcomers feel pressure to abandon their first language.
forced acculturation
1/fˈɔɹst ˈækˈʌlt͡ʃɚˈeɪʃən/
fixed phrase
formal
Imposed cultural adaptation
being made to adopt another culture, often by people with power
Examples
- The boarding school system is now widely discussed as an example of forced acculturation.
- Policies of forced acculturation aimed to replace Indigenous languages with the dominant language.
- The museum exhibit explains how forced acculturation affected family life and identity.
reverse acculturation
1/ɹɪvˈɚs ˈækˈʌlt͡ʃɚˈeɪʃən/
fixed phrase
technical
Minority culture influencing majority
when the main culture takes on customs or ideas from a smaller or immigrant culture
Examples
- The popularity of immigrant foods in the wider city is often described as a form of reverse acculturation.
- Reverse acculturation can be seen when mainstream media adopts music, slang, or fashion from minority communities.
- The article argues that cultural influence does not move in only one direction because reverse acculturation is common in diverse societies.
selective acculturation
1/səlˈɛktɪv ˈækˈʌlt͡ʃɚˈeɪʃən/
fixed phrase
technical
Partial cultural adaptation
adapting to a new culture in some ways while keeping parts of your own culture
Examples
- Many families practice selective acculturation by using English at work and their heritage language at home.
- Selective acculturation can help young people succeed in a new society while maintaining a strong cultural identity.
- The community's schools supported selective acculturation rather than total assimilation.