What term describes the process of adapting to a new culture while retaining elements of one's original culture?

The term that describes the process of adapting to a new culture while retaining elements of one's original culture is acculturation. This concept encompasses the changes that occur when individuals or groups from one culture adopt practices and ideas from another culture while still maintaining aspects of their original cultural identity. Acculturation allows for a cultural exchange and adaptation where individuals can blend their heritage with new cultural influences, creating a unique cultural identity that reflects both backgrounds.

In contrast, assimilation represents a more one-sided process where individuals fully adopt the new culture, often at the expense of their original culture, leading to a loss of cultural identity. Integration refers to a state of coexistence where different cultural groups maintain their distinctiveness but also participate in a unified society, while coalescence typically refers to merging elements into a single whole, sometimes without regard for the original cultural distinctions. Thus, acculturation is the most accurate term for the process described, focusing on both adaptation and the preservation of cultural elements.