earticle

영어

Drawing on M. J. Bennett’s theory of ‘Developmental Model of Intercultural Sensitivity (DMIS),’ this study explores the developmental stages of adaptation to other cultures as represented in the Korean-Canadian novels. Korean-Canadian novels written in the early period of immigration show the stage of denial of difference and defense against difference. Yet as the reaction of Korean-Canadians to cultural differences gradually goes through the stages of minimization of difference, acceptance of difference, adaptation to difference and finally Integration of difference, the Korean-Canadian novels indicate the change from ethnocentrism to cultural relativism. That is, the novels reveal that while Korean Canadians have become part of the new culture of Canada as they stayed longer there, they have maintained the native Korean culture and integrated it to the newly-adopted culture to reach a complex form of values. This implies that the policy of Canada to keep multiculturalism for immigrants is gradually accepted by the Korean immigrants, and Korean Canadians overcome the culture shock they had to face at the early stage of immigration and they are adapting themselves to the local culture as they settle down in the new society.