What is acculturation?

• A. The process by which a less dominant culture adopts some traits of a more dominant culture.
• B. The complete replacement of a culture by a more dominant culture.
• C. The study of how languages change over time.
• D. The spread of technology across cultures.

Answer: (A)

Acculturation occurs when two cultures come into sustained contact and influence each other, leading to changes as people borrow traits such as customs, practices, and beliefs. In this process, a less dominant culture adopts some traits of a more dominant culture while still retaining its own distinct identity. It’s about selective borrowing and adaptation rather than a complete takeover or replacement of one culture by another. This differs from full cultural replacement, which would be assimilation, and it’s not specifically about language change over time or the broad spread of technology, which are separate ideas. So the best description centers on the adoption of elements from a dominant culture through ongoing contact.