Communication Experiences of Ugandan Immigrants during Acculturation to the United States A Preliminary Study

Abstract

This study examined the communication experiences of a section of Ugandan immigrants during their acculturation process to the U.S. Kim’s theory of communication cultural adaptation was applied to identify the communication challenges and strategies used in the acculturation process. Ten women and twelve men were interviewed for the study. Four themes emerged: language, superiority and discrimination, self-promotion and aggressiveness, and adaptation and cultural change. The findings indicated that Ugandans have pursued a strategy of cultural integration as opposed to marginalization, assimilation, or separation. The findings can be used to aid both the immigrants and members of the U.S. host culture to better prepare for intercultural communication involving the two cultures. Also, the research breaks the ground for future studies on a wider array of Ugandan and other African immigrant communities whose unique communication experiences during their acculturation in U.S. have been overlooked.