The Word Assimilation - 785 Words

The word assimilation has many different meanings. Its interpretations range from the digesting of nutrients to the transfer of similar sounds. However, when sifting through the various definitions of assimilation, there is one concept that always seems to stand out. No matter what the source is or how it’s worded, there is almost always a reference to cultural groups. Whether it’s the acceptance of a group or the alteration of it, the customs of contrasting cultures continuously come up. One such definition, according to the AudioEnglish.org dictionary, based on WordNet 2.1 and supported by Princeton University, states assimilation is â€Å"the social process of absorbing one cultural group into harmony with another.† Kristyn Hammond, a college composition professor in the Texas AM school system, describes in her eHow article Types of Assimilation, published on September 06, 2014, that as cultures mix and evolve, there is a â€Å"transition of cultural traits, language acquisition and cultural identities from each group to the other.† AudioEnlgish.org also relates terms such as Americanization and Westernization to assimilation, but unfortunately, these processes aren’t always as harmonious as the definition suggests. Hammond states later in her article that, â€Å"While assimilation can be a brutal and violent condition of forced integration, it can also be a peaceful combination of cultures.† Unfortunately, in the American experience, there are more examples of oppressive enterprisesShow MoreRelatedVariation Of Duration And Fundamental Frequency1153 Words   |  5 PagesVariation in duration and fundamental frequency and assimilation in different segmental contexts This paper will examine two things. The first is the way duration and fundamental frequency vary according to phrasal position. The second is how F2 transitions for /d/ and /g/ change according to adjacent segmental context. From this, I will determine whether categorical assimilation has occurred in fad bag and fag bag. 1. Introduction 1.1 Duration Much research has been carried out concerning theRead MoreAnalysis Of The F Word By Firoozeh Dumas1736 Words   |  7 Pages â€Å"The F Word† written by Firoozeh Dumas, describes the struggles of an Iranian immigrant that tries to assimilate and feel accepted in the American society. The excerpt is about not feeling comfortable in using her Farsi name and the negative attitudes she receives while using it. Duma’s shows the Americans’ intolerance towards immigrants such as herself. In â€Å"The F Word,† Firoozeh Dumas suggests that stereotypical treatment and close-mindedness towards immigrants hinders assimilation through theRead MoreAmy Tan s The Joy Luck Club1385 Words   |  6 PagesPluralism, Acculturation and Assimilation in Amy Tan s The Joy Luck Club Mona A. M. Ahmed Zagazig University, Egypt The purpose of this paper is to investigate pluralism, acculturation and assimilation in Amy Tan s novel The Joy Luck Club (1989), a finalist for the National Award, and a recipient of the 1990 Bay Area Book Reviewers award for fiction. Amy Tan (1952- ) is a Chinese American novelist; she isRead MoreThe Expectation For Duration Of The Rhyme1484 Words   |  6 PagesHowever, for the sounds with a positive VOT, there seems to be a higher fundamental frequency in phrase-medial position than in phrase-final position. 3.3 Assimilation For this parameter, there were two different theories. On the one hand, the theory of categorical change of place features, while the other one describes assimilation without change to phonological features. When there is a change of place features, we expect there to be a falling contour of the F2, because the /d/ and /g/ inRead MoreThe Disappearance Of The Roanoke Island Colony1214 Words   |  5 Pagesreturned to find the settlement abandon. The only remaining clue was the word â€Å"CROATOAN† carved into a fence post and the letters â€Å"CRO† etched into a nearby tree. Several diverse theories have been suggested to explain the disappearance of the 120 missing colonist, ranging from disease to natural disaster. Any evidence supporting the various theories is weak, at best. However, the clues left behind point to the assimilation theory which proposes the colonists integrated with the natives, as the CroatoanRead MoreSocial, Economic, And Political Pressures982 Words   |  4 Pagesall the time, to you it is just common phrase. A hundred years ago, however, if one was to say this, others would have no idea where it came from or what it means. Through migration and interaction with Spanish speakers we have learned now common words and include them in our casual everyday language. Examples are â€Å"Hola!†, â€Å"Adios!†, â€Å"Te amo†, and etc. Linguists believe a major agent of change is due to children. Children hear the language their parents speak and start to internalize it in a differentRead MoreTeaching English As A Second Language Successfully By An Esl Teacher1091 Words   |  5 Pagesthe teacher needs to design a curriculum that includes various kinds of know ledge based on students’ levels. For students who just started to learn English, the curriculum might focus on developing students’ abilities in decoding words and teach them how to spell words. For middle school students, I might offer more reading and writing activities and help them develop their vocabulary. Also, the teacher had better use various kinds of scaffolding strategies in the class to accommodate the needs ofRead MoreThe Issue Of Immigration Has Been On The Forefront Major Debates1684 Words   |  7 PagesThroughout America’s history, the issue of immigration has been on the forefront major debates. Immigration is among one of the most stimulating topics of discussion. Often when discussing immigration the question of assimilation also arises and whether or not immigrants are truly doing so. Since the beginning of this country, immigrants and even natives of the land have been pressured to assimilate to â€Å"American† Culture and to commi t to its standards. When a group of people fail to assimilate toRead MoreAboriginal Identity In Joseph Boydens Three Day Road1316 Words   |  6 Pagesallowing one to fully immerse themself into the excruciating experiences the three main characters are forced to endure. Assimilation and discrimination are seen to radiate towards each Aboriginal character no matter their effort to avoid it. These stories, told by Xavier Bird, Elijah Weesageechak and Niska, all provide intelligible proof as to how discrimination and assimilation shape Aboriginal identity through the deterioration of self-confidence and the loss of individuality. Endless discriminationRead MoreAn Analysis of Objective and Style in Bains Hyphen and Bissoondaths Illusions1253 Words   |  5 PagesAnurita Bains Riding the Hyphen and Neil Bissoondaths Selling Illusions stake diametrically opposed viewpoints: Bains essay derides assimilation (using her own experiences as a Punjabi girl growing up in Canada as a point of emphasis); Bissoondaths essay opposes multiculturalism. The uncritical reader might suggest that one must either be pro-assimilation or pro-multiculturalism and that both writers are representing a side. And yet neither writer actually advocates anything other than being