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the experiences of the recent Cuban immigrants in the U.S. The process
of acculturation is affected by and affects the rate which immigrants
learn English. A closer look at this process provides important back
ground information necessary for understanding the research population.
Sassen-Koob (1979) believes that investigating a particular
immigrant group is a necessary step in the more general task of
understanding assimilation and acculturation. "It is then possible
to move from the particular back to the analytical as a means of
formulating general propositions rooted in the actual historical
experience of the immigrant groups" (p. 314). The reverse process can
also be utilized to understand specific groups, by understanding the
patterns by which larger masses have established themselves in this
land of immigrants.
Accommodation, Adaptation, and Assimilation
Richmond (1973) provides an extensive review of the literature
on immigrant adaptation in which she examines definitions of accom
modation and acculturation. Accommodation occurs when the immigrant
changes behavior simply to avoid or reduce the likelihood of conflict.
Acculturation results in a change in behavior over a period of time
as two different cultures come in contact. Changes occur based on
newly acquired knowledge and understanding. Acculturation is often,
but not always, the first step in the process of assimilation. The
amount of acculturation which a person or a group experiences is
frequently, but not always, in direct relationship to the length of
time in residence in the host country and the extent of interaction