Asian American Culture: Differences Between Urban Areas & Rural Areas

Name Course Tutor Date Asian American Culture The Asian American population in the US grew two-fold in 1970 to 1990 and is expected to double between 1990 and 2020. Today, there are approximately 12.5 million Asian Americans, majority of whom are in college (Kiang). The large Asian American population in the USA is explained in different ways, which include hyper-selectivity through immigration law and hypo-selectivity, where the majority of the people who arrived through this structure were refugees (Kiang). The population is a representation of more than thirty Asian ethnicities which includes Tongan, Lao, Hmong, Cambodian, Thai, Guamanian, Mien, and Vietnamese (Kiang). While they all may appear similar in complexion, they are culturally diverse with biracial and multiracial marriages. Further, the complexity is informed by ethnic diversity among the Asian population and adaptation of different cultural practices. The term “Asian American” is coined as an attempt to move from the previous terminology, “Oriental,” which was considered politically insensitive. “Oriental” stems from “Orient,” which came from the Asian colonial experiences. Additionally, the term “oriental” carries a connotation of western colonial artifacts in Asia such as spices, rugs, and ancient apparel rather than the people (Filipino American National Historical Society). The history of the cultural connotation has been propelled by the representation of the Asian culture on media in ways that do not establish the essence of the different practices or reflect the ideal life of Asian backgrounds. While some of the reflection may stem from some Asian history, the depiction fails to capture the context of the cultural practice or its essence. There are significant dialectical differences which stem from the different nationalities of the Asian immigrants, religion, educational background, political affiliations, class backgrounds, and essentially their ethnic identity. The dialect of the Asian American is defined by their nationality. The national languages of their countries bear significant influence on the people’s dialect, thus Asians from China and Japan need to use English in order to communicate (Kiang). The diverse ethnicities that make up the Asian population also explain the diversity in language. The Asian-American background in their home country also contributes to this diversity. People from the urban areas speak differently from their counterparts in the rural areas. Those from the urban areas may speak less of their ethnic language compared to those from the rural areas. The social status influences the dialect of the entities. Asians who come from economically endowed families are likely to be well educated, thus they may not be eloquent in their ethnic language...