Here's a breakdown of the key elements involved:
1. Learning the Language:
* Verbal Language: This involves acquiring the vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation of the language. It also includes understanding the nuances of meaning and the cultural implications of specific words and phrases.
* Nonverbal Language: This involves understanding the body language, gestures, facial expressions, and other nonverbal cues used in the culture.
2. Internalizing Cultural Norms and Values:
* Social Norms: This involves understanding the expected behaviors in different social situations, such as greetings, table manners, and how to interact with people in positions of authority.
* Values: This involves learning what is considered important and desirable in the culture, such as honesty, hard work, or respect for elders.
* Beliefs: This involves understanding the cultural beliefs about the world, such as religious beliefs, beliefs about gender roles, or beliefs about health and illness.
3. Acquiring Cultural Knowledge:
* History and Traditions: This involves learning about the culture's history, its major events, and its important traditions and customs.
* Arts and Literature: This involves experiencing the culture's art, music, literature, and other forms of creative expression.
* Material Culture: This involves understanding the culture's material objects, such as tools, clothing, and architecture, and the meanings they hold.
4. Becoming Competent in Cultural Practices:
* Social Skills: This involves developing the social skills necessary to navigate the culture effectively, such as being able to make conversation, build relationships, and resolve conflicts.
* Cultural Sensitivity: This involves being aware of the cultural differences between your own culture and the new culture, and being respectful of those differences.
* Cultural Adaptation: This involves adjusting your own behaviors and beliefs to better fit in with the new culture.
Key factors that influence enculturation:
* Age: Children are more likely to fully enculturate into a new culture than adults.
* Exposure: The more exposure one has to the new culture, the more likely they are to enculturate.
* Motivation: People who are motivated to learn the new culture are more likely to succeed.
* Personality: Some people are naturally more adaptable and open to new experiences, making them more likely to enculturate.
Conclusion:
Enculturation is a complex and ongoing process. It's not just about learning the language and customs of a new culture, but also about internalizing its values and beliefs and becoming comfortable in its social environment. It's a lifelong journey that involves constant learning, adaptation, and growth.