externalize vs assign

externalize and assign both are verbs.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
externalize	No	No	Yes	No
assign	No	No	Yes	No

As verbs, assign is a hypernym of externalize; that is, assign is a word with a broader meaning than externalize:

Other hypernyms of externalize include ascribe, attribute, impute.

externalize (verb)	assign (verb)
make external or objective, or give reality to	select something or someone for a specific purpose
regard as objective	attribute or credit to
	decide as to where something belongs in a scheme
	attribute or give
	transfer one's right to
	give out
	make undue claims to having
	give an assignment to (a person) to a post, or assign a task to (a person)