Cultural Adaptation Today
First off I want to define exactly what
cultural adaptation is and exactly what it means. It is defined as the long-term process of
adjusting to and finally feeling comfortable in a new environment (Martin &
Nakayama, 2009). This term is usually
related to immigrant type families who move to a new country where their own
culture is a minority. They then are
immersed within that culture typically for a long period of time before they
feel totally comfortable being a part of it.
Sometimes there are factors like the type of the host environment,
whether it is welcoming or hostile, or the contextual/environmental influences
that take place in the adaptation process.
There are three communication approaches to this concept that include
examples of social science, interpretive, and critical. The social science approach focuses on some
of the personal experiences of the individual, the interpretive approach
centers on their detailed experience of the process, and the critical approach
takes a look at history and society in the process of the adaptation (Martin
& Nakayama, 2009).
Cultural adaptation is directly related
to an intercultural communication example because we all have dealt with others
from different cultures that are trying to adapt to our specific culture here
in the United States. A good example of
this is many of the international students we have here on campus and the
trials and tribulations they go through to adapt to our culture especially if
it is their first time being here in the United States. If a student is here attending college for four
years this probably isn’t enough time to fully adapt to the style of American
culture with the difference of our customs compared
to theirs in their home country.
Sometimes this adaptation process could take upwards of ten years or
longer to fully take full affect for the individual.
In the future I am going to be more
aware of this concept and how it pertains to my day-to-day activities. If I am dealing with someone who is going
through some type of cultural adaptation I am definitely going to be more aware
of the situation and help him or her out in any way that I can. If I am in a situation to give someone
directions to a place they are trying to get I am definitely going to keep this
concept in mind and help them out the best I can knowing that they might be
dealing with cultural adaptation.
Martin,
Judith N. & Nakayama, Thomas K. (2009).
Intercultural Communication
In
Contexts:
Fifth Edition. McGraw
Hill Companies. pp. 320
- This video from youtube is very interesting, it follows a South Korean student and the things she has to deal with studying abroad in England. This is very similar to the examples I talked about in my CAPS post about cultural adaptation being dealt with by international students studying here in the United States.
- The following link I have posted gives some detailed examples of cultural adaptation and how it pertains to geography around the world.
Cultural adaptation is something I have experienced first hand. Luckily, I was not in a hostile culture and the people in Brazil really welcomed a foreigner. Being a kid also helped.
ReplyDeleteI agreed that four years' college time isn’t enough to fully adapt to the style of American culture. I am in my last year in the U.S. and sometimes I have to say that there's always something behind the culture adaptation which can not be practice and educated. It's a tough process and fully depend on people's own wishes.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if the adaptation doesn't happen with anyone who leaves for college be it a resident or international student. Leaving your home and moving into the dorms can be a pretty big change for most people.
ReplyDelete