English-Vinglish (2012) is a Bollywood movie by Gauri Shinde, which follows an Indian housewife-- Sashi who visits her sister in New York for her niece’s wedding. Sashi is mocked by her family for not knowing English and not being taken seriously due to her traditional outlook. She struggles to adapt to the American way of life, until she joins an English-learning course through which she rediscovers and learns to value herself. The movie English-Vinglish displays the clash between Indian and American cultures through the concepts of acculturative stress, individualistic and collectivistic cultures, and the adaptation process of culture shock.
Acculturation refers to a culture change that is experienced as a result of interaction between two autonomous and independent cultural groups of representatives. The mental and physical challenges that arise due to this interaction is termed as ‘acculturative stress’. This concept is shown in an early scene of Sashi’s experience at a local cafe in New York (Irawati, 2012). At the cafe, the employee is rude to her from the beginning, which makes her extremely nervous. This happens as she finds herself having to communicate in a language that she barely understands in order to survive. She struggles to understand questions posed by the employee about what she wants to eat and drink. Ordering food confuses Sashi who does not know the difference between the various types of coffees offered. She repeats her order of “just coffee” multiple times because most eateries in India offer Cappuccinos as the standard coffee order. As a result of stuttering and taking up too much time to order, the employee, as well as a customer waiting in line tell her to hurry. The system of ordering food in an American cafe is different from the leisurely process of sitting down at a typical Indian restaurant. After placing the order, she is asked to pay, which also acts as a stressor because she is unfamiliar with the currency. She drops the coins all over the counter and floor due to shaky hands and in the process, knocks over another customer’s plate. Sashi knows that she is holding up multiple people and she feels the pressure increase when she has to figure out what notes and coins to give to the employee. When she notices the disapproving reactions of the people around her, Sashi rushes out of the cafe to gather herself on a nearby bench as she has a panic attack. The unfamiliarity with the language and culture leads to a display of acculturative stress.
The contrast between Indian and American cultures is also reflected in the mindset of its people. The movie skillfully shows the difference in the attitudes of those belonging to individualistic and collectivist cultures. Sashi grew up in a collectivist society, which taught her to put the needs of her family above her own. Her identity in India was deeply linked to her role as a good wife and mother. A great amount of emphasis was placed on her passion for cooking. The laddoos she made were her specialty and at times, was paid to serve them at weddings and other occasions. In the very first English class she attends in America, the instructor asks her what she does. This introduces the individualistic attitude of Americans, which associates one's identity only with oneself and not in relation to others. Sashi is not used to talking about herself or her accomplishments, so she hesitantly answers that she sells an Indian sweet. The instructor promptly introduces her to the term ‘entrepreneur’. Sashi’s face lights up at the recognition of her talent and the definition of her individual identity (Nichani, 2012).
Over the course of the movie, we see Sashi undergoing the various stages of the adaptation process of cultural shock. These stages are the honeymoon period, culture shock, adjustment, and adaptation (Irawati, 2012). The honeymoon period is seen when Sashi first arrives in New York. She looks around at the large buildings in fascination, talks about how excited she is, and we see her trying to say ‘Manhattan’ in awe. In this stage, one is captivated by the novelty of a new environment and culture. The next stage of culture shock refers to the recognition of the difference in cultures and the discomfort that comes along with it. We see this in the movie when Sashi sees a couple kissing in public. In India, physical acts of intimacy are considered taboo and only expressed behind closed doors. Sashi was uncomfortable by the blatant display of a private act like kissing. The adjustment stage refers to the acceptance and acclimatisation of the new and unfamiliar culture. Sashi quickly realises that she cannot be independent in America unless she knows how to speak English. Instead of retreating and locking herself up at home, she decides to address her weakness by taking English-learning classes. The last stage of the process is adaptation. A few weeks into attending English classes, Sashi successfully places her first food order much to the awe of her friends. She then realises that she is independent and allowed to celebrate her achievements.
English-Vinglish is an accurate depiction of the struggles of acculturative stress and the impact that has on one’s self image. It shows her journey from being scared of the unfamiliar to eventually embracing it and thereby developing a new part of her identity. The movie achieves the ideal balance, especially in contrasting ways of life such as individualism and collectivism. While reflecting on the ideal of cross-cultural communication, we often focus on the different cultures understanding and adjusting to each other. English-Vinglish highlights the fact that you can appreciate and become accustomed to a new culture, while simultaneously retaining your own.