acculturation
UK[əˌkʌltʃəˈreɪʃən]US[əˌkʌltʃəˈreɪʃən]
n
The process of learning and adapting to the cultural traits or social patterns of another group.
n
The mutual influence and modification of cultures that occurs when different groups come into continuous firsthand contact.
Morpheme Breakdown
ac
culture
ation
ac
culture
ation
Etymology
The word 'acculturation' is a modern English formation built upon the familiar noun 'culture.' It was created by adding the Latin-derived directional prefix 'ad-' (assimilated to 'ac-' before 'c') and the noun-forming suffix '-ation' to the root. The prefix 'ac-' implies a process of moving 'toward' a culture, while '-ation' frames this movement as a formal process. Thus, the term's literal construction means "the process of being brought toward (a) culture," which logically evolved in anthropological discourse to denote the complex social process where individuals or groups assimilate or exchange cultural features.
Analysis
Structure: ac + culture + ation
- ac (Latin ad-): A prefix meaning "to" or "toward," indicating direction or addition.
- culture (Latin cultura): The root meaning "cultivation, tending," referring to the customs, arts, and social institutions of a group.
- ation (Latin -atio): A noun-forming suffix indicating an action or process.
Examples
The acculturation of immigrant communities is often a gradual process spanning generations.
Anthropologists study the acculturation that occurs when two distinct societies interact.
Language acquisition is a key component of a child's acculturation into their society.