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assimilation
The process whereby minority groups adapt to and accept the linguistic, cultural, and behavioral norms of the dominant culture in a society.
Additional information
Immigrant assimilation into American culture was a long-presumed requirement for success in the U.S. "melting pot." More recent critiques point to the violent loss of culture often required by assimilation, including loss of primary language.
Assimilation is sometimes referred to as acculturation.
