Assimilasjon

Assimilasjon, often translated as assimilation, is the process by which individuals or groups adopt the culture, language, norms, and social institutions of another group, typically the dominant society. The term is used across sociology, migration studies, linguistics, and biology, and its meaning varies with context.

In sociocultural contexts, assimilasjon describes how immigrants or minority groups integrate into the host society. It can be cultural (adopting language, customs, values) or structural (attaining education, employment, intermarriage, participation in political and civic life). Outcomes range from full or partial assimilation to enduring cultural pluralism; the pace and direction depend on social, economic, and policy factors, including discrimination, social mobility, and institutional openness.

Linguistic and psychological aspects of assimilasjon involve adoption of language features and communication patterns, as well as shifts in identity and social belonging. In biology and nutrition, assimilasjon refers to the uptake and incorporation of digested substances into the body's tissues, the step after digestion, and closely related to metabolism.

History and policy discussions around assimilasjon have shaped debates on immigration, integration, and multiculturalism. Some theories describe a linear path toward a homogeneous national culture, while contemporary perspectives emphasize reciprocal exchange and the preservation of cultural diversity within a shared social framework.

See also: acculturation, integration, multiculturalism, assimilation in biology, metabolism.