Final answer:
Acculturation is the process where ethnic minorities adapt to some beliefs of the dominant culture, while assimilation involves a minority losing its original identity completely. Acculturation allows for a degree of cultural retention, whereas assimilation often means a total merging with the dominant culture.
Step-by-step explanation:
Acculturation and Assimilation
Acculturation is the process by which ethnic minorities adopt certain beliefs and practices of the dominant or host culture while still maintaining elements of their own. In contrast, assimilation is the process by which a minority individual or group loses its own identity by taking on the characteristics of the dominant culture, often to the extent of no longer being culturally distinguishable from the dominant group.
An example of acculturation could be immigrants in the United States who incorporate the English language and American customs into their daily life while still retaining traditional practices from their country of origin. For assimilation, an example could be the children of these immigrants who might solely identify with American culture, barely recognizing their ancestor's traditions or language.
In the context of American society, assimilation has been a function of immigration. Anti-miscegenation laws previously hindered minority groups from assimilating due to restrictions on interracial marriages. However, the concepts of the cultural melting pot and the American Dream have contributed to the shaping and diversification of American society and culture by promoting a blend of ethnicities and ideas.
Assimilation is often measured by sociologists through four benchmarks: socioeconomic status, spatial concentration, language assimilation, and intermarriage. These benchmarks help determine the extent to which immigrants have been absorbed into a new culture. However, when racial and ethnic discrimination is present, full assimilation is more challenging, especially with language barriers that can limit social and economic opportunities.