Assimilation

[uh-sim-uh-ley-shuhn]

Assimilation (from Latin assimilatio; "to render similar") may refer to more than one article:

Assimilation (linguistics), a linguistic process by which a sound becomes similar to an adjacent sound
Cultural assimilation, the process whereby a minority group gradually adopts the customs and attitudes of the prevailing culture

Language shift or language assimilation, the progressive process whereby a speech community of a language shifts to speaking another language
Americanization (of Native Americans), cultural assimilation of Native Americans in the United States
Jewish assimilation

Assimilation (biology), the conversion of nutrient into the fluid or solid substance of the body, by the processes of digestion and absorption
Assimilation (meteorology), the process of objectively adapting the model state (of a numerical weather prediction model) to observations in a statistical optimal way taking into account model and observation errors.
Assimilation (philosophy), incorporation of new concepts into existing schemes

Assimilation (Star Trek), process used by the fictional Star Trek Borg race to integrate a being into their collective structure
Biological assimilation is also used by the Zerg in the StarCraft series as a way of incorporating the genetics of other species into their own genepool.
In Superman, assimilation is the method of being stabbed or injected with kryptonite

In psychoanalysis, a mutual penetration of conscious and unconscious contents
In Piagetian developmental psychology, one of the twin processes whereby concepts are modified (along with accommodation)
In computer science, the modification of anti-virus software to detect a new virus
In typesetting, the symmetry property possessed in varying degrees by a typeface that creates mirror relationships and other similarities of form between letters
L'assimilande, a novel by Paul Laurendeau about fast-paced linguistic assimilation triggered by a technical device called the glottophore.

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