Cross-cultural studies.

Similarities & differences in speech behavior

of the English vs. Ukrainians

Syllabus:
5 lectures
5 seminars
1 module paper
Credit
 Lectures in Cross-Cultural Studies
Lecture One. Part One.
• What is culture?
• Individual differences in C. – the degree to
which people adopt and engage in the
attitudes, values, beliefs, and behaviors. If you
act in accordance with these values and
behaviors, then that C. resides in you; if not –
you do not share that culture.
 Are we similar or different?

1. What are we similar in? Give your reasons.

2. What are we different in? Give examples.
3. Culture as the basis of cross-cultural studies.
 What is culture?
• Culture is a coherent and logical system, the parts of which are
interrelated.
• Culture is:
1) a state of high development in art and thought
existing in a society & represented at various levels
in its members;
2) development & improvement of the mind & body
by training & education;
3) is both an individual and social construct.
Culture exists in each & every one of us individually
as much as it exists as a global, social construct.
 Culture – a ‘fuzzy’ concept
• Culture is a ‘fuzzy’ concept, in that group
members are unlikely to share identical sets of
attitude, beliefs etc., but rather show ‘family
resemblances’.
• Norms of any culture – relevant to all people
within the culture but in different degrees
personally.
• Are some cultures more advanced or
backward?
The answer is ‘Definitely not’.
Different people are culture-bound & polite in
their own way guided by their national norms
of behavior imposed on them by the society.
Anthropological studies by W. Labov and
D. Hymes (cf. a guest visit to the Wishram
Amerindians who treat silence as a sign of
acknowledgement)
• It is not that some cultures are more advanced
or backward, more civilized or polite, coarse
or rude. Rather, they are similar to or different
from each other.
• Amerindians’ understanding of time:
< Future________Present________Past__>
 Etic and emic factors of culture
• Etic factor – all humans experience social distance from out-
groups, i.e. they feel closer to their family & kin to those whom
they see as similar than to those whom they see as different.
• Emic factor – is based on tribe or race, religion, social class,
nationality & caste (in India) etc. Gaze is an emic element.
Cultural emic rules regard the appropriateness of gazing at
others when interacting In some Oriental cultures they don’t
look straight in the eye, avoid eye contact. If the eyes meet,
the gaze is quickly averted somewhere else not because of
negative feelings but of deference to the partner. The case is
different in Western cultures. Say in which.
 Culture change
• Cultural innovations (i.e. introduction of new
thoughts, norms, material items etc.). It occurs
as a result of both internal & external forces
(discoveries & inventions).
• Culture change – the result of cultural diffusion.
Cultural diffusion – most innovations introduced
into a C. are the result of borrowing from other
C., spreading of C. items from one C. to another.
So, culture change is the result of diffusion.
 Culture is learned
• C. is acquired through the process of learning: greater
tolerance for cultural differences.
• Since we mastered our own C., it is possible to master a
foreign one through the process of learning & training
(effective training programs).
• Two babies born at exactly the same time in two parts of
the globe are taught to respond differently (some – to
smile at others, some – only in very specific circumstances.
In the USA - a child makes decisions as to wishes, wants
and preferences; elsewhere – what parents say to do.)
How is it in Ukraine?
 Cultural diffusion (C.D.)
Cultural diffusion is:
1) a selective process (cultures accept everything
discriminately from one another):
a) a foreign C. is seen to be superior to the
recipient C.;
b) it is consistent with existing C. patterns;
c) it is easily understood;
d) its benefits are clearly visible to a large
number of people;
2) a two-way process – cultures influence one another
by adopting better patterns of civilization.
 Basic components of culture
• Three basic components of culture are:
things, ideas & behaviors.
They can undergo changes – additions, deletions,
modifications.
There is nothing as constant as a change!
The pace of culture change varies from
society to society.
Give examples of a rapid culture change in the USA, Great
Britain & Ukraine (if any), say by what it was caused
Literature to Lecture One. Part One
1. Larry A. Samovar, Richard E. Porter. Intercultural
Communication: A Reader. – Belmont,CA: Wadsworth
Publishing Company, 1999. – 343 p. (p. 33 – 69).
2. P.K. Conrad. Cultural Anthropology. – New York: Random
House, 1982. – 398 p. (p.5 – 16, 27, 35).
3. E.C. Stewart, M.J. Bennett. American Cultural Patterns: A
Cultural Perspective. - Yarmouth: Intercultural Press,
1991. – 192 p. (p. 1 – 15)
4. Ron Scollon, Suzanne Wong Scollon. Intercultural
Communication: A Discourse Approach. – Oxford UK:
Blackwell, 1995. – 271 p. (p. 16 – 31).
 Lecture One. Part Two. Principles of
interaction in Western Culture
Conditions governing conversation
• The Principle of Cooperation by H. P. Grice:
“There is a common purpose, shared by the participants of a
conversation, which regulates the contributions of each
participant to the conversation. This purpose may be fixed
from the very outset or it may evolve during the conversation”.
“Make your conversational contribution such as required, at
the stage at which it occurs, by the accepted purpose or
direction of the talk exchange in which you are engaged”
(Grice 1975:67).
• The Principle of Politeness (J.Leech, P.Brown & S.Levinson)
 Literature to Lecture One. Part Two

• Goody E.N. Introduction.Questions and

politeness: Strategies in social interaction.
Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1987. 1
– 5.
• Leech J. Politeness Phenomena. Principles of
Pragmatics. London: Longmans, 1983. 30 – 45.
• Messenger B. The Complete Guide to Etiquette.
London: Evans Brothers, 1966. P. 7 -17, 39 – 81,
132.
• Following Kant, Grice related four categories of Quantity, Quality, Relation and Manner to respective
four maxims and submaxims (rules) of conversation.
• 1. The category of Quantity concerns the quantity of information to be provided, and it
• subsumes the following maxims:
• 1.1.” Make your contribution as informative as is required for the current purposes of the exchange”;
• 1.2. “Do not make your contribution more informative than is required”.
• 2.The category of Quality relates to the truth (and its justification) of the information:
• 2.1. “Do not say what you believe to be false”;
• 2.2. “Do not say that for which you lack adequate evidence”.
• 3. The category of Relation concerns the relation of each participant to the purpose of the
conversation. Under this category Grice places one maxim:
• “Be relevant”.
• 4. The category of Manner concerns the modality of conversational participation.
• 4.1. “Avoid obscurity of expression”
• 4.2. “Avoid ambiguity”
• 4.3. “Be brief (avoid unnecessary prolixity)”
• 4.4. “Be orderly”
 Are the maxims always observed?
• Provide situations when interactional maxims cannot be
violated.
• Provide situations when interactional maxims are
violated/flouted when infringement of one of the maxims
takes place. Which can be the situations?
Guess what kind of violation takes place in the following
example:
Prof. to a student: “ Please make clear all the elements of your
answer to my question, because I don’t know the answer”.
A case of “white lie” (e.g. a doctor’s talk to a patient or a
compliment to a plain girl)
• (At the bus station) The driver to the
passengers: “The bus goes to the depot”. –
“Which depot?” – The fourth. ( The driver
keeps aloof. Here we have the violation of … )
• (In the public transport a girl cries out to a
woman in the far end of it): “Mom, here is a
vacant place”.
 The Principle of Politeness
(by J. Leech)
The Principle of Politeness provides social
balances of forces. It consists of:
• Maxim of Tact (to prevent conflicts)
• Maxim of Generosity (be generous in any
situation)
• Maxim of Approbation (approvement
‘odobreniya’)
• Maxim of Modesty (never overestimate yourself)
 The Principle of Politeness
(by Brown and Levinson)

• In interpersonal interaction – connection with

“face”. Face Saving theory.
• Brown and Levinson make the following
assumptions: All competent adult members of a
society have a “face”, the public self-image that
every member wants to claim for himself,
consisting of two related aspects: positive and
negative face.
• Positive face: the positive self-image or personality
claimed by communicators (the desire that self-
image be appreciated or approved, the want of a
person to be desirable, to be ratified, understood,
approved of , liked or admired ).
• Negative face: the basic claim to territories, personal
preserves, rights to nondistraction, i.e. to freedom of
action and freedom from imposition. In other words
– negative face: the want of every adult member to
be unimpeded by others.
 Positive Politeness
Brown & S. Levinson worked out the theory of positive and negative
face: Accordingly politeness is based on the assumption of positive
and negative face.
• Positive politeness (convey that Hearer is admirable, interesting):
(lists 15 strategies)
1. Notice, attend to H (his interests, wants, needs, goods)
2. Exaggerate (interest, approval, sympathy with H)
3. Intensify interest to H
4. Use in-group identity markers
5. Seek agreement
6. Avoid disagreement
7. Presuppose/raise/assert common ground
Continuation (Positive Politeness)

8. Joke
9. Assert or presuppose knowledge
of and concern for H’s wants
10. Offer, promise
11. Be optimistic
12. Include both Speaker and Hearer in
the activity
13. Give (or ask for) reasons
14. Assume or assert reciprocity
15. Give gifts to Hearer (goods
sympathy, understanding,
cooperation)
 Negative politeness
• Negative politeness (freedom, be unimpeded, minimizing imposition, in linguistic
realizations – conventional indirectness, hedges on illocutionary force, pessimism
about the success of requests): (lists 10 strategies)
1. Be conventionally indirect
2. Question, hedge
3. Be pessimistic
4. Minimize the imposition
5. Give deference
6. Apologize
7. Impersonalize Speaker and Hearer: avoid the pronouns “I” and “you”
8. State the face threatening act ( FTA ) as a general rule
9. Nominalize
10. Don’t indebt Hearer, don’t impinge on Hearer.
 Lecture Two. Part One. The British/Americans vs.
Ukrainians: Differences in Speech Behaviour

Cross-cultural check-list for the class:

• Attitudes to time: monochronic vs. polychronic
culture
• Politeness vs. directness
• Sayings and proverbs as a reflection of culture
• Terms of address
• Proxemics : space and distance
• Touch and body language
• Tolerance of silence
Literature to Lecture Two. Part One
1. Тер-Минасова С.Г. Война и мир языков и
культур. – М.: Астрель, 2007. – 286 с.(4 –46)
2. Herald Husemann. As others see Us. – Berlin:
Peter Lang, 1994. - 151 p. (p. 149).
3. Sandra Campagna. Going ‘global,
multimodally speaking //ESP Across Cultures.
Vol. 4, 2007. P. 5 – 7.
 Attitude to time:
monochronic vs. polychronic cultures
In monochronic culture people

• Do one thing at a time.

• Are committed to the job and concentrate on it.
• Take time commitments (deadlines, schedules) seriously.
• Are low-context and need information.
• Adhere religiously to plans.
• Are concerned with not disturbing others; follow rules of privacy and
consideration.
• Show great respect for law and private property; seldom borrow or
lend.
• Are accustomed to short-term relationships
 In polychronic culture people
• Do many things at a time
• Are committed to people and human relationships, are highly
distractible and subject to interruptions
• Consider time commitments an objective to be achieved if possible
• Are high-context and already have information
• Change plans often and easily
• Are more concerned with those who are closely related (family,
friends etc.) than with privacy
• Borrow and lend things often and easily
• Have strong tendency to build lifetime relationships
 Attitudes to time:
monochronic vs. polychronic cultures
 Politeness vs. Directness
• Politeness – a universal category, nationally
and culturally specific.
• Formulas of politeness and strategies which
regulate speech behavior
Differences in Understanding Politeness by:

• Americans & the British: to show attention and considerateness

which are obviously of demonstrative character.
• Ukrainians: to stick to etiquette rules, has ethical character.
• For the Am/Br: impossible to be “over-polite”.
• Over-politeness is assessed positively.
• The form dominates the meaning.
• “S’s acknowledgement of the H and H’s autonomy can’t be
exaggerated” (B & L)
• For the Ukrainians: over-politeness is assessed negatively.
Sincerity, directness, naturalness are preferred, i.e. the meaning
dominates the form.
 Differences in speech behaviour
Americans/the British Ukrainians
Unimposing Imposing
Indirectness Directness
Ambiguity, obscurity Openness, sincerity
Turn-taking Overlapping
Face-oriented Status-oriented
Emotive, stereotypical Emotional
Demonstrative Natural
Phatic Informative
Regulated Less regulated
Committed to time Frivolous, not timebound
 Reasons for differences
1. In incompatibility of historically determined social relationships
( horizontal & vertical ) in the two cultures;
2. In cultural values
On horizontal distance: for the British/Americans – privacy (verbal intrusion is
forbidden); for Ukrainians - prefer a close social distance (admit H’s positive
response to S’s interests, wishes, problems, advice etc.). Direct and imperative
speech acts (particularly in H’s interests) aren’t perceived as violating the
Principles of Politeness.
On vertical distance: status, social roles are of greater importance for Ukrainians.
Imperatives are possible either under “friendly” or “chief – subordinate”
circumstances (S has power over H).
The British/Americans do not demonstrate power.
Examples: Would you like to read? Would you mind moving up your car? ( In a joking
manner) Don’t even think about it ( after blizzard)
 Lecture Two. Part Two. Proxemics
Issues for discussion
1. The definition of proxemiics
2. Space
3. Distance
4. Cultural differences in the approach to space
and distance
 Literature to Lecture Two. Part Two.

1. Тер-Минасова С.Г. Война и мир языков и

культур. – М.: Астрель, 2007. – 286 с.(4 –46)
2. Herald Husemann. As others see Us. – Berlin:
Peter Lang, 1994. - 151 p. (p. 149).
3. Shanta Nair-Venugopal. Appropriating English
as the World’s local Language of Global
Communication // ESP Across Cultures. Vol.
4, 2007. P. 38 – 54.
• Differences in speech behavior of the British/Americans and
Ukrainians are the result of the above mentioned factors which make
up a national style of speaking.
• For the British/Americans it is distant (tend to keep language and
space distance), indirect (the use of indirect speech acts), non-
categorical (actively employ the so called hedged performatives), over-
polite, regulated by a set of social norms, and phatic.
• For the Ukrainians it is characterized by establishing close contacts (in
emotional and space aspects), predominantly impositive (direct),
categorical (when expressing advice, ideas, thoughts), status-oriented
(over-politeness in the situations with unequal communicative roles of
the ‘boss – subordinate’ type), non-phatic (preferably informative with
dominance of the meaning over the form).
 Proxemics: Space and Distance
• Two diametrically opposite actions:
a)advancing (getting closer), b)distancing

Positive politeness Negative politeness

• In Anglo-Saxon and other Northern cultures the normal
speaking distance between interlocutors is an arm’s length
(even longer). In Southern countries (Italy etc.) and Slavic
culture the distance is closer.
• E.g. (A scholarly conference in Urbana-Champaigne.Two professors (Ukr. & Am.) are
speaking during the tea-break). Ukr.: unconsciously trying to move
closer, American: unconsciously trying to step back. The
Ukrainian may think of the American as haughty, while
American may feel the Ukrainian interlocutor to be rather
intrusive. (looks like a dance – moving forward and
backward)
• When communicating we usually keep a comfortable distance called
differently – “personal space”, “interpersonal distance”, “comfort zone”,
etc. Distance depends on the nature of relationship and social
interaction. Americans have established the following distances:
• Intimate distance (An emotionally charged zone)
• Personal distance (from one to four feet. Used for informal contact //
friends)
• Social distance (from four to twelve feet for interaction with
acquaintances and strangers. Used in business meetings, classrooms,
and impersonal social affairs)
• Public distance (from twelve to twenty-five feet. A cool interaction
distance used for one-way communication from speaker to audience.
Necessitates a louder voice and stylized gestures)
• Differences in behavior of Slavic and Western
representatives standing in line.
We tend to stay very close to each other, to the
counter, ticket desk, ATM (Automatic Teller
Machine) to withdraw money etc. The
Americans/British – at two arms’ length and
never approach the counter until the person
at the counter, ATM etc. has left it.
 Linguistic distancing
For Ukrainians to say: “in this country” means distancing. We
say “in our country”.
Another example:
A woman (at the bus stop addressing the driver of Bus 12):
How can I get to the railway station?
A driver: By Bus 12 (instead of saying “by this bus” as far as he
drives it).
Here the driver’s preference of such an answer is determined
by the type of his individuality who prefers not to give full
information (a case of flouting Gracian Maxim of Quantity).
 Tolerance of silence
• Small talk - a talk just for the pleasure of it when we get together with
friends, colleagues or even total strangers over coffee or dinner or in
other place (standing in line). Pragmatically viewed, it is a speech event
of being together in a sociable way bound in time and space and
governed by its own rules of interaction for the sake of solidarity and
cooperation between interlocutors.
• Filling in gaps. The situation of being together for a longer time can’t
tolerate silence. Compare whether Ukrainians and the English being in a
compartment during a trip behave similarly.
(A joke about a talkative woman and Oscar Wild, who prefers to keep
silence during the journey):
She: If you were my husband, I would give you poison.
He: If you were my wife, I would take it.
“Small Talk” in Contrasted Cultures
• Aims of “small talk”: socializing, cooperation, solidarity, co-performance for
pleasure.
• Definitions of “small talk”: ‘referentially deficient and communicatively
insignificant’ (Coupland & Robison 1993), ‘insincerity is its outstanding
feature’ (Wolfson 1981), ‘dull and pedestrian’ (Leech 1974), ‘a friendly talk
just for the pleasure of it’ (Malinowsky 1972)
• Communicative situations for “small talk”: a get-together meeting, party,
travelling, standing in line, tea/coffee break talks at conference/committee
sittings, getting acquainted, casual walks/promenades etc.
• The nature of small talk: non-assertive, non-argumentative, non-
confrontational, and releasing very little information.
• “Small talk” topics: safe topics (weather, gardening, sport, travelling, cars,
hobbies, celebrities, politics, etc.)
• Small talk registers/forms:
a) optimistic (animated, challenging, dynamic)
(both in Western and Ukrainian cultures);
b) pessimistic (complaining, trouble-talking,
critical) (in Ukrainian culture);
c) argumentative (competitive, imposing,
advice giving, confrontational) (in Ukrainian
culture).
 Prohibition vs. Permission in Contrasted
cultures
• In American culture – the policy ‘to permit’, therefore speech acts
are primarily of advice, e.g. On the door one can see the notice
“For the staff” – ‘allowed for the staff’ (cf. Ukr. “Стороннім
заборонено”, or Rus. “Посторонним не входить”);
• In Ukrainian culture – the policy ‘to prohibit’ whatever possible:
“По траві не ходити”,(cf. Rus. “По газонам ходить
воспрещается”
• “From Nyet to Da” – a book of reminiscences of the author who
stayed in a Ukrainian hotel during his business trip to Kyiv. “Nyet”
– usual answer to any request to do smth. not in duly time or
place. After a friendly talk about family, children the answer was
positive - “Da”
Lecture 3. Linguistic, Communicative, and Metacommunicative
Competence of Verbal & Nonverbal Behavior

Issues
1. The notion of competence.
2. Linguistic/grammar competence.
3. Communicative competence
4. Metacommunicative competence
5. Two types of behavior: verbal & nonverbal
 Literature to Lecture Three
• Bassnett S. Studying British Cultures: An Introduction. London, New York: Routledge,
1997. – 202 p. (p. 3 – 53).
• Майол Э., Милстед Д. Эти странные англичане. – М.: Эгмонт Россия, 1999. – 72 с. (5 –
54)
• Селіванова О.І., Байкова О.М. Опановуючи англійську мову і культуру. – Київ: Ленвіт,
2008. – 126 с. ( с.120 – 122).
• Стефани Фол. Эти странные американцы. – М.: Эгмонт Россия, 1999. – 72 с. (с. 35, 48)
• Тер-Минасова С.Г. Война и мир языков и культур. – М.: Астрель, 2007. – 286 с. (с. 46 –
66).
• Майол Э., Милстед Д. Эти странные англичане. – М.: Эгмонт Россия, 1999. – 72 с. (5 –
54)
• 4. Чхетиани Т.Д. Лингвистические аспекты метакоммуникации. Автореф. дис. …
канд.филол.наук, 1987. – 24 с. 2.Селіванова О.І., Байкова О.М. Опановуючи англійську
мову і культуру. – Київ: Ленвіт, 2008. – 126 с. ( с.36 – 75).
• Linguistic competence – a good command of the target language, a
proper acquisition of its grammar, lexicon, and idiomatic units to be
able to make up correct sentences, meaningful and understandable.
e.g. (In the park) Am.: Where can I wash my hands? A guide: Just over
there in the fountain. (idiom for ‘toilet’)
An exchanged student from Japan was shot in Louisiana when he was
mistaken for a prowler while looking for the site of a Halloween party to
which he was invited. He did not know the meaning of the shouted
command Freeze! – ‘stop, don’t move’ by the gun-bearing occupant of
the wrong home.
A Vietnamese girl seeing the table Rest Room: Can I have a rest there?
The answer to which was: A sort of.
Exchange students in the USA face numerous acculturation difficulties!
• Communicative competence means pragmatic
competence: to obey norms and rules of
communication (see Grician maxims), strategies
of speech behavior, meet the requirements of
the situation (taking all the parameters into
consideration), make the interaction
comprehensive and friendly.
• Metacommunicative competence: know how to
establish, maintain and terminate interaction.
 Differences in verbal and non-verbal
behavior
• Verbal: Americans and the British tend to
overestimate politeness in communication. They
demonstrate exaggeration of politeness markers
(overuse formulas of greeting, gratitude,
forgiveness, make compliments and vague
invitations like “We must meet and talk one of these
days. I’ll give you a call”, show empathy, friendliness
and deference), whereas Ukrainians underestimate
politeness phenomena, in particular within sets of
close relationship (treat them as insincere).
DIFFERENCES IN NONVERBAL BEHAVIOUR

• Non-verbal: gestures, facial expressions, body

movements, conversational distance affect
communication. To study the “silent” language of alien
culture is a must.(Bush’s V in Lat.Am. was abusement)
• Three types: 1) autistic (nervous): biting the lips or
fingernails, twitching a facial muscle etc., 2) technical:
the sign language of the deaf, gestures of referees,
military salutes, signals of music conductors, traffic
directors, and radio performers, 3) folk gestures.
• Which of them are culture-bound?
• In America people point with the forefinger, but American
Indians point with their lips. Gestures are used to express
emotions (love, respect, honour, reverence, satisfaction etc.) and
acts (greeting, leave-taking, thanking, agreement, disagreement,
etc.).
• Facial expressions of Americans aren’t always sincere. Many
pretend not to show their emotions freely. Relatives may smile
having condolences for the bereaved which does not mean that
they do not experience sorrow.
• Eye contact – to show attention, intimacy, influence.
• To stare at strangers is rude, but to glance at them and smile
when passing by is common.
Americans’ 12 Keys to a Happy Life
• Compliment three people every day.
• Be the first to say “Hello”.
• Treat everyone as you want to be treated.
• Forget the Jones’s.
• Remember someone’s name.
• Be tough-minded but tender-hearted.
• Be kinder than you have to be.
• Don’t forget that a person’s greatest emotional need is to feel appreciated.
• Keep your promises.
• Learn to show cheerfulness even when you don’t feel it
• Leave everything better than you found it.
• Don’t waste an opportunity to tell someone that you love them.
Lecture Four. British Etiquette & Manners

Issues:
1. British verbal and nonverbal etiquette
2. American verbal and nonverbal etiquette
3. Ukrainian verbal and nonverbal etiquette
4. Similarities and differences of Br./Am. & Ukr.
verbal and nonverbal etiquette
 Literature to Lecture Four
• Bassnett S. Studying British Cultures. London,
New York : Routledge, 1997. 202 p.
• Tarnopolsky O., Sklyarenko N. Lifestyle
Communicative Behavioral Patterns in the USA
Київ: Видав.центр КДЛУ, 2000
• Майол Э., Мистед Д. Эти странные англичане.
М.: Эгмонт, 1999. – 72 с.
• Фол С. Эти странные американцы. М.: Эгмонт,
1999. – 72 с.
 British Etiquette & Manners
• British people are a bit more formal:
• Firm shake-hand, irrespective of gender, is good. Do it when being introduced and
when leaving. Don’t do it on a casual meeting.
• Address with Mr., Mrs. or Miss followed by the surname.
• Don’t use the first name until invited to do so.
• Exchange the business cards at the beginning of meeting without much ceremony.
• Do not stare into the eyes of English people. Introduction protocol should be
followed. Introduce a younger to an old person, a gentleman to a lady, a lower-rank
person to a higher rank person.
• If you plan on an agenda, forward it to your British colleague in advance for
reviewing it & recommending any changes.
• The business proceedings normally start after a brief small talk.
• In your presentation do not claim more than what are facts. Support your
presentation with facts and figures.
British Etiquette & Manners (continued)
• Do not probe people with personal questions.
• When invited for dinner at a restaurant, be punctual. If
invited at home, you may be late by 10 min, it’s OK.
Present a gift to your host (it can be a box of
chocolates, a bottle of wine or bouquet of flowers).
• Follow the dining table manners. Do not sit down
unless requested. The host may indicate the place
where to sit.
• Communicate at a bit formal level unless you are close
to the person or have developed personal friendship.
British Etiquette & Manners (continued)
• Do not lean on table or do not rest your elbows on the
table while dining.
• If invited to a meal at a restaurant, the person
extending the invitation usually pays. Do not argue
about paying it yourself; you may reciprocate at a later
day.
• Discipline is important If you happen to see a queue,
always go to the end of it and wait for your turn.
• Do not use or chew a toothpick in public.
• Do not spit anywhere.
 American Etiquette & Manners
• In USA, East Coast is more conservative & formal in dress &
manners than the West Coast.
• For official meeting wear dark coloured suit with white shirt.
For men & women formal attire is recommended.
• Wear casual clothes (neat & clean) when not attending a
meeting or dinner. Wearing jeans or khaki pants or shorts is
quite in place visiting malls etc.
• Punctuality is very important due to the work ethic of the USA.
• In the USA, honest hard work is valued.
• Business meeting may be over breakfast, lunch or dinner
based on appropriateness.
American Etiquette & Manners (continued)

• Business & social conversation usually take place during the

meals.
• Gifts are discouraged by many US companies, if permitted, it
should be very modest. You can send a gracious written note.
• Discipline is important. If you happen to see a line, always go
to the end of line and wait for your turn.
• Do not use or chew on a toothpick in public.
• Do not spit anywhere.
• Public places & private homes do not allow smoking because
of laws preventing smoking. In case you desire to smoke, ask
permission. If permission is not given, do not feel offended.
American Etiquette & Manners (continued
• On meeting people or departing, offer a firm handshake, lasting few seconds
maintaining eye contact with the person. It shows interest, sincerity &
confidence.
• Good friends may briefly embrace.
• Business cards are generally exchanged during introductions or while leaving.
• A smile is a sign of friendliness.
• In the USA, asking about the nature of your profession is a typical starter for
conversation.
• For Americans, a way to establish a connection with people, is to cut jokes,
especially about work-related issues. However, do not joke about gender,
religion or politics.
• In the USA, it is better not to speak about or show any ethnic & racial
inclinations
 British Superstitions
• Superstitions can be defined as “irrational beliefs, especially with
regard to the unknown” (Collins English Dictionary)
• Good luck can be attracted by such signs:
Lucky to meet a black cat. (Black cats are featured on many good
luck greeting cards and birthday cards in England).
Lucky to touch wood.
Lucky to find a clover plant with four leaves.
A horseshoe over the door brings good luck. It must be the right
way up, never upside down.
On the 1st day of the month it is lucky to say “white rabbits, white
rabbits, white rabbits” before uttering your 1st word of the day.
 British Superstitions (continued)

Falling leaves in autumn. Every leaf means a lucky month next year.
Cut your hair when the moon is waxing.
Putting money in the pocket of new clothes.
A bride should wear ”smth borrowed, smth blue, smth old & smth new
The husband should carry his new wife over the threshold of the home
Visiting the new baby for the first time, place a silver coin in its hand.
Unlucky: to walk underneath a ladder, break a mirror, to spill salt (otherwise must
throw it over the shoulder), number thirteen (especially Friday the thirteenth
when Jesus was crucified ).
Most popular food superstition is that:
When finished eating a boiled egg, push the spoon through the bottom of the
empty shell to let the devil out.
If you drop a table knife expect a male visitor, if a fork – a female visitor.
 Sayings and Proverbs
• East or West home is best
• When in Rome do as the Romans do
• Bridge a gap to find a friend
• Evil communications corrupt good manners
• Agree to differ
• Custom is a second nature
• Make the whole world kin
• Take the world as one finds it
• The world is a small place/a great village
• To speak a different language
• Throw lifestyle out of the door, it will come back again through the
window
 Lecture Five. American vs. British
Communicative Styles
• Issues:
1. The notion of communicative style.
2. British communicative styles.
3. American communicative styles.
4. Differences between British & American
communicative styles.
 Literature to Lecture 5
• Bassnett S. Studying British Cultures. London, New York :
Routledge, 1997. 202 p.
• Tarnopolsky O., Sklyarenko N. Lifestyle Communicative
Behavioral Patterns in the USA
Київ: Видав.центр КДЛУ, 2000
• Майол Э., Мистед Д. Эти странные англичане. М.: Эгмонт,
1999. – 72 с.
• Cеліванова О.О., Іванова О.І., Байкова О.М. Опановуючи
англійську мову і культуру. – Київ: Ленвіт, 2008. – 126 с.
( с.36 – 75).
• Фол С. Эти странные американцы. М.: Эгмонт, 1999. – 72 с.
 American vs. British Communicative Styles

• The American communicative style is characterized by

informality which attracts attention immediately upon arrival in
the States. A stranger can say “Hi!” to you in the street and can
start a short spontaneous conversation. First names are used
almost immediately. People seem warm & friendly from the
very start. This cannot happen in GB. They look more formal
and reserved.
• In America, a woman in the lift, whom you see for the first time,
can make a remark on your dress or hear style. Such remark
would greatly surprise the English woman (what do you think of
a Ukr. woman’s reaction to “Яка гарна у вас зачіска”?). Most
English people would consider this rude and inappropriate.
 American vs. British Communicative Styles
(continued)
• Distance, another distinctive feature, is culturally significant. Americans
stand closer to each other than the British. If they push you , they
always apologize, saying Sorry or Excuse me. Excuse me is the only
phrase if asking or requesting for smth, whereas for the British other
apologizing cliche are possible.
• Touching when talking is considered rude & standing too close to an
American may be interpreted as being pushy & aggressive. Americans
value the concept of space. A typical American house is spacious. They
often say that the ideal house means the one where you do not hear or
see your neighbors. British rooms are not so spacious but more cozy.
• American small talk is usually about weather & travelling. Politics,
religion and money are avoided. For the British it is weather and
gardening.
 American vs. British Communicative Styles
(continued)
• Americans are used to taking turns in a conversation. Each
would normally speak for no more than 10-15 seconds. If
you speak for a long time, they will get bored or think of you
as a rude person. Their conversation is like playing ping-pong
which is not the case for the British.
• American ritual talk (“How are you?”) is very short, unlike in
Britain. Am. prefer to get straight to the point
• Americans rely more on words than on connotations. Unlike
the British, they tend to be direct and speak their mind.
Probably of this the British accuse Americans of being rude.
• Americans speak louder than the British.
• Not knowing the target cultural non-verbal
communicative behavioral pattern may lead to
inconveniences & misunderstandings. In the
process of business negotiations, taking off
one’s jacket & rolling up one’s shirt sleeves is a
sign of seriously getting down to business for
an American, but it is quite the opposite sign
(desire to relax) for a British.
 American vs. British Communicative Styles
(continued)
• As is known, Americans are talkative, loud &
outspoken. The British are reserved, reticent &
quiet. A story about an American lady and a British
writer & dramatist Oscar Wilde, who happened to
be passengers in a railway compartment, says that
he is tired of the lady talking nonstop & keeps silent:
She: If you were my husband I would give you
poison.
He: If you were my wife I would take it.
 American vs. British Communicative Styles
(continued)
• Americans are a smiling nation. Even being offered condolences their
gratitude is expressed with a smile meaning bitterness.
• Americans adhere religiously to time commitments, whereas the
English are not like them. Instead, they religiously adhere to gardening.
• The first greeting phrases by Americans include questions about health,
family & work. The Englishmen will ask how one likes the weather and
how good it is
for gardening.
• Americans are church-goers, 90 % prefer to go to the church on Sunday.
The British are nature-bound, prefer to spend time in the open air, pitch
tents in the fields, just get pleasure of viewing nature
• The common feature they share is considerateness and disclamation of
imposition.
А. Глебовская“Эти странные американцы”
• The author of the book “The Xenophobe’s Guide to the Americans” is Stephanie
Faul.
• Specific Americans’ features:
1. Are proud of America and of being Americans.
2. Love to boast that they are different from the others; (actually only in that they
are taller and have nice teeth);
3. They are of different origin (immigrants from all over the world);
4. Are individualistic;
5. Only 10% of Americans have passports (but ID);
6. Think that everybody speaks their language.
7. Don’t care what to wear. (Waiters are in suits, whereas millionaires are casually
dressed – wear shorts & T-shirts);
8. Feel close to the Englishmen, have tender feelings towards them, the Royal
family in particular; worship Beatles and Rolling Stones.
9. Don’t trust the Japanese – think they are collectivists,
don’t share the idea of feminism, are conformists and
ethically homogeneous;
10. Victory – the basis of their psychology. Think they are
winners in the world and render help to miserable & poor
countries;
11. Attitude to calamity, catastrophe, turmoil – not to worry,
be optimistic, think positively no matter what happens;
12. Adhere religiously to plans & schedules;
13. Highly appreciate humor, love jokes about lawyers;
 Acculturation
• Willingness to immerse oneself into alien culture – the
most important factor of acculturation.
• Enlightening – due to establishing grounds for successful
interpersonal communication. Perceptions can change.
People of alien culture can be very close, in an informal
personal way, but it takes time to know about a person,
to start having special feelings to him/her.
• Equal effort is required from both the speaker and the
hearer to adjust to communication styles of each other
and to establish common grounds for achieving rapport
 Ways to Avoid Misunderstanding
• Developing linguistic (idiomatic English in
particular), communicative and
metacommunicative competence
• Overt discussion of cross-cultural differences.
• Developing pragmatic comprehension of non-verbal
messages.
• Deliberate speculation on cross-cultural differences.
• Provide the students with some strategies that they
can use to achieve mutual understanding.
 LIST OF AMERICAN TRAITS DESCRIBED BY
RUSSIAN SUBJECTS
Positive Traits
1. Ability to relax & get fun
2. Informality, self-confidence
3. Punctuality, friendliness
diligence, responsibility
4. Independence, self-respect
5. Readiness to help, politeness
6. Financial independence, kindness
Negative Traits
inability to concentrate
lack of self-criticism
too much pragmatism, pragmatic
attitude to sex
egoism, always think they are
the best and unique
too practical, rational, can
suppress their feeling if they can’t
afford it
lack of depth& inability to go
beyond one’s frame of experience,
adherence to rules & procedures
7. Sociability, amiability indirectness about
willingness to help what they expect
you to do for them
8. Ability to work hard not caring about
desire to be independent anything but
themselves, lack of
sincerity, don’t like
to have a serious
relationship
9. Self-confidence, over-consuming,
self-reliance, over-exaggerated
independence, individualism
ability to adapt
10. Friendliness selfishness,
indifference to any-
body but themselves
 A List of Russian Traits as Described by
Americans
Positive traits Negative traits
1.culture, erudition snobbery, supermicism
2.Ability to survive no respect for personal
space & privacy
3.Hospitality, honesty self-depriciation
4.Friendly & open if mean, pushy when they
they know you don’t know you
5.Faith & loyalty to difficult to say ‘no’ to
friends them
6.Generocity sexism
7.Friends are not afraid men carrying things for
to say what they think (sexism)
8.Helpfulness, insistence that their
hospitality way is the right way
9. Warmth, down-to earth, prejudiced
strait-forwardness
10. Modesty ‘I’m better than you’
attitude
11.Love of culture, music, do not like to take
art, land, adaptation risks with money,
feelings, thoughts,
not hospitable if they
don’t know you
12. Interested in you can take it far & invade your
emotionally & space
physically
13.Loyalty to each other lack of outlook (no plans or goals)
 Stereotypes about Americans
Differences in approaches, values & expectations between
people with different cultural backgrounds have lead to
many failures. Miscommunication across cultures is usually
the most important cause of cross-cultural problems in
multinational relations.
Don’t believe all of the stereotypes you may have heard
about Americans. Even the ones that are true in general may
not be true about individuals. Although Americans tend to
be louder and more boisterous than other people, many are
quiet & polite. Some people may be intolerant and
xenophobic, but most will be pleasant & welcoming
Seminars
 Seminar 1. Cross-Cultural Studies
Questions & tasks
1. The subject of cross-cultural studies.
2. Aims pursued by cross-cultural studies.
3. The British / Americans / Ukrainians viewed cross-culturally.
4. Behavioral models of the contrasted cultures
5. Attitude to time & space
6. Attitude to silence. Small talk
7. Write down a project for 3-4 pages about your experience of
talking to foreigners.
8. Write down the project “Why should I study cultures to know
languages?”
 Seminar 2. Moral Concepts Viewed Cross-Culturally

Issues for discussions

1. Friendliness vs. friendship
2. Compare Americans and the British. Who of them is universally perceived as
friendly, informal, easy-going.
3. Which of the learned cultures are reserved, formal, tacit & friendly. Comment
on your answer. Give reasons.
4. Give arguments of different approaches to understanding
the concept FRIENDSHIP: for Americans: an acquaintance = a friend; for them
three days of communication are enough to call a person a friend; for
Ukrainians – these are different concepts: acquaintance – ‘a short-time, not
close relationship’; friend - ‘a life-long close relationship’. Give examples to
prove this.
5. Make notes of Ter-Minasova’s book The War and Peace of Languages &
Cultures. (in Rus. Война и мир языков и культур. М.: Астрель, 2017. 286 с.)
• Discussing issues and writing projects on the following:
a) Americans give “a friend” a “loose” meaning as compared to
Ukrainians. It is quantitative rather than qualitative type of
involvement.
b) “To have a steady boy/girl friend” is very important to Am. college
students. Relationships define sexuality, and so people who don’t
have mates are assumed to be homosexual or weird”. Prove that
Ukrainian students think otherwise.
c) To have friends and mates means to be social & friendly. In contrast,
it is not viewed as weird not to have a lot of friends and dates in
Ukraine. But if Americans have a “true” friend, they call him/her a
“best friend” or “close friend”. Write whether it is true to fact.
d) Courtesy and respect. How can you account for the fact
that in Ukraine a woman expects a man to open the door
for her, help her to put on a coat. Which are other actions
that a man should display towards a woman to mean
‘respect’. Americans not doing so are considered as not
courteous. American females consider these acts
disrespectful. They don’t want men to take care of them,
they wish to be independent and want respect not just
because of their gender, but because they are valuable
members of society.
Give your arguments to support or reject such attitude
• Independence. Say if you agree to the following:
• For Americans: self-governing, self-reliance, choice,
respect of personal boundaries, informality, security, self-
determination, self-control, individual responsibility,
individual success, punctuality, friendliness.
• For Ukrainians: involvement (close connection),
hospitality, generosity, trust, concern, sincerity,
directness, intimacy, loyalty, emotional commitment,
spontaneity, flexibility, inner freedom for feeling and
thoughts pertaining to morality
 Seminar 3.Morality vs Plagiarism
Discuss the following statements:
1. An important aspect of academic morality in the USA is
the attitude towards what is called cheating in the
classroom during quizzes, tests and exams. Using ’cribs’ &
other unauthorized materials and trying to pass them off
as your own, all other cases of plagiarism when a student
copies whole passages or pages from a coursebook or a
scholarly book without citing the source – all these &
other similar kinds of behaviour are considered as
academic cheating.
What is your attitude to this ?
 Morality vs Plagiarism
(continuation)
2. If in Ukrainian culture plagiarism was looked upon as a
minor offense, in American culture it is treated as a major
offense – in fact a crime. It is absolutely inadmissible. A
student found guilty in plagiarism, of trying to find out
beforehand the exact tasks or questions to be answered
during tests or exams, of using cribs, or of giving promts to
other students will face very serious penalties. At best s(he)
will be suspended, but quite often dismissed from the
university for good. A special record will be made of her/his
misdemeanor that may prove a serious obstacle in all the
future career. Is this a hard punishment to your mind?
 Classroom behaviour

3. Students in the USA are expected to attend their classes

regularly, to prepare for them thoroughly, and to take an
active part in classroom discussions and in every kind of
classroom work. There is always a deadline for submitting
all kinds of written papers. The paper of a student who is
late will not be accepted with all the unpleasant
consequences for a defaulter. The instructor is entitled to
assign students lower term grades.
What measures can be taken to solve the problem in
Ukrainian universities?
 Classroom behaviour
(continuation)
4.Taking into account the importance of grades, it is a
great incentive to maintain students’ active
involvement in classroom work and their classroom
discipline. This discipline is quite strict – both, the
instructor and the students, are expected to appear
exactly on time for class sessions, and the students are
always in their seats when the professor enters the
classroom. But lecturing itself tends to be informal.
To what extent do you think we differ from Americans in
this matter?
 (continuation)
5. Americans dress informally for class and on campus.
You will hardly ever see ties, formal suits and dresses.
Slacks, jeans, T-shirts, shorts, sweaters are the kind of
regular clothes throughout the year. The same style
for dressing is for members of the faculty. If you are a
student or a visiting professor dressed formally, you
risk to be asked whether today is your birthday.
Compare this information about dress wearing with
the one in Ukrainian universities and other settings
(e.g. governmental establishments)
6. It is not considered wrong to interrupt the instructor with
questions, remarks, and comments of what he said, even to
challenge his opinion. Frantic waving of hands by students during a
lecture or occasional comments without a permission to speak are
not a sign of disrespect or rudeness. It should be interpreted as a
sign of interest and a desire to understand. That is why if a lecturer
sees students’ raising hands during the explanation, he stops and
answers their questions. Such classroom behaviour and informal
dressing for classes derives from the American belief that for
education and learning experience to be successful, they should be
approached in an interested, comfortable, and easy-going manner.
Can you see any difference pertaining to Ukrainian university?
 Moral Traits of Ukrainians as Viewed by
Foreigners
Positive traits Negative traits
Ability to relax and Inability to concentrate
get fun
Informality, self- Lack of self-criticism
Confidence
Punctuality, friendliness Too much pragmatism
Diligence, responsibility Too practical
Independence Egotism, think they are the best &
unique
Sociability, amiability Adherence to rules, indirectness
Ability to work hard Lack of sincerity
Self-reliance Individualism, indifference to anybody
Ability to adapt Selfishness
What are other traits you would like to add?
 Moral traits (continuation)
• For Americans: self-governing, self-reliance, choice,
respect of personal boundaries, informality, security, self-
determination, self-control, individual responsibility,
individual success, punctuality, friendliness.
• For Ukrainians: involvement (close connection),
hospitality, generosity, trust, concern, sincerity,
directness, intimacy, loyalty, emotional commitment,
spontaneity, flexibility, inner freedom for feeling and
thoughts pertaining to morality
• Independence.
• Food and the Act of Eating:
Offering food to others is viewed by Ukrainians as an
act of displaying courtesy & hospitality to a guest.
Americans’ value of independence & choice is being
violated by the Ukrainians’ desire to express
hospitality and concern towards the guest and Ukr.
feel their hospitality being rejected. Thus Ukr. are
viewed by Am. as “pushy” and accordingly Am. as
“rude” when refusing to eat. (A case of I.V. Korunets in the USA
university)
• External and internal personal boundaries
viewed as preserving independence . “Privacy
is characteristic of Anglo-Saxon cultures.
Every individual would want to have a little
wall around him/her” (Wierzbicka 1991).
• Possessions as a personal space (“It’s mine”)
Ukrainians associate ‘privacy’ with ‘private life’,
‘inner world’.
 Americans’ way of life
• Politicians love to emphasize family merits & virtues
though a marital status of Americans speaks for itself:
only one third of married couples is preserved, others
remarry a number of times. Almost half of them are
divorced or live separately. 10% of young men and 5% of
women stay single; prefer to adopt children. Many
children live in one-member family.
• Since the very childhood children are taught to be self-
determined, independent & cautious; parents develop
self-dignity and assurance in their children. After 16-18
children prefer to live separately from their parents.
American “Traits” as Described by Foreigners
Positive traits Negative traits
Ability to relax and Inability to concentrate
get fun
Informality, self- Lack of self-criticism
Confidence
Punctuality, friendliness Too much pragmatism
Diligence, responsibility Too practical
Independence Egotism, think they are the best &
unique
Sociability, amiability Adherence to rules, indirectness
Ability to work hard Lack of sincerity
Self-reliance Individualism, indifference to anybody
Ability to adapt Selfishness
 Seminar Four. These strange Englishmen
(translated by I.Togoyeva)
Antony Miall, David Milsted. The Xenophobe’s Guide
to the English. M., 1999. – 72 p.
Plan:
1. Character
2. System of values
3.Behaviour, manners, etiquette
4. Sense of humour
5. Culture, customs and traditions
6. Language. Conversation and body movements
 Knowledge of a Culture by the British
• One point of view: find phrase books and tourist
guides that tell us emphatically that all British
people enjoy the traditional breakfast of eggs @
bacon every morning and instruct us to learn
phrases such as ‘What a lovely day today!’ as a
conversation opener.
• Another opinion: culture – is a course that teaches
students facts about the political @ economic
institutions of Britain, Law @ Order, the Monarchy,
the Parliamentary System @ the Family life.
• One approach more: culture involves not only the
acquisition of basic information but a complex
hermeneutic process for the individual (a complex
network of signs, a web of signifying practicies).
• Summary: The study of British culture cannot be
simply an examination of facts @ institutions, it
must also involve a study of the discourse that
shape them as well as identification of Britishness
and questions of cultural identity.
• Englishman @ Englishwoman refer not only to
English people in the strict sense, but also to
the Scottish, Welsh @ Irish who enjoy the
privileges of ‘being British’.
• British self-confidence @ self-belief is based
on their pride of history, language, culture,
military skills, democratic institutions,
commerce @ business, exporters @ investors.
• One must differentiate between British nationalism,
which implies inherent racism and xenophobia, @
national consciousness, which embraces racial,
religious and ethnic difference. This distinction is a vital
one in any society striving towards multiculturalism. In
Britain Salmon Rushdie has spoken of the ‘new empire
within Britain’. Today, it is impossible not to recognize
national identity of the Scottish, Welsh or Irish who are
British in citizenship but each enjoying distinguishable
cultural and behavioural patterns.
• As in ethnographic work generally, there is much to be
gained by observation of – or participation in – social
rituals and forms of conventional behaviour. These
might include sport (darts, bowling, dog racing etc.),
shopping in shopping centres (examining products on
sale, as well as social behaviour), the theatre (the
performance of the audience), weddings, parties and
other festivities, more particular conventions of
behaviour (modes of address, who shakes hands with
whom and on what occasions, who sits where at social
gatherings) are also revealing.
• Social behaviour depends much on various
factors.
British society is peculiarly perceiving itself in
terms of binary oppositions: left/right,
rich/poor, north/south, black/white,
high cultural/popular cultural,
standard / nonstandard, bosses / unions,
defence / prosecution, Labour/Conservative etc.
 English character
• Xenophobia is the national feature of the Englishmen which is
revealed in the culture of the country. The reason for this, they think,
is “all unpleasant & complicated problems are aliens-related”. This
contempt stems from the Norman invasion. They think that:
• Everything English must be the best, even the weather, which is
changeable and therefore is interesting.
• They are specific – live on the island, the rest of the world is the
Continent.
• Despite the fact that England has the largest number of the
imprisoned – “our nation is the most civilized in the world” by which
they mean the level of culture, education and skills of decent
behaviour in the society.
 English character (continuation)
• Englishmen think of themselves as firm, law-
obedient, polite, generous, gallant, courteous
and righteous. Subtle (not abusive) humour is
considered the best Englishman’s asset.
• The English think the world takes them for a
pattern to follow. They do not reject being
stereotypical and conservative.
 Foreigners about Englishmen
What do foreigners think about Englishmen?
1. They are difficult for understanding for they are
inexpressive, unemotional; It is impossible to guess
their culinary tastes.
2. They are considerate, compassionate, and never fail
to keep their promise.
3. Indifferent to what is going on in the world. Prefer to
live isolated and be reinforced by good beer and
traditions.
4. They are prejudiced.
 British Superstitions
• Superstitions can be defined as “irrational beliefs, especially with
regard to the unknown” (Collins English Dictionary)
• Good luck can be attracted by such signs:
Lucky to meet a black cat. (Black cats are featured on many good
luck greeting cards and birthday cards in England).
Lucky to touch wood.
Lucky to find a clover plant with four leaves.
A horseshoe over the door brings good luck. It must be the right
way up, never upside down.
On the 1st day of the month it is lucky to say “white rabbits, white
rabbits, white rabbits” before uttering your 1st word of the day.
 British Superstitions (continued)
Falling leaves in autumn. Every leaf means a lucky month next year.
Cut your hair when the moon is waxing (grows larger).
Putting money in the pocket of new clothes.
A bride should wear ”smth borrowed, smth blue, smth old & smth new”.
The husband should carry his new wife over the threshold of the home
Visiting the new baby for the first time, place a silver coin in its hand.
Unlucky: to walk underneath a ladder, break a mirror, to spill salt (otherwise
must throw it over the shoulder), number thirteen (especially Friday the
thirteenth when Jesus was crucified ).
Most popular food superstition is that:
When finished eating a boiled egg, push the spoon through the bottom of
the empty shell to let the devil out.
If you drop a table knife expect a male visitor, if a fork – a female visitor.
• A favourite proverb of the Englishman “Every
thing has its reverse side” speaks of his Janus
two-faced character. On the one hand,
children are brought up to be honest and
reserved, on the other hand, seeing how their
parents perform, they grow up hypocritical:
“Do as I told you to do, not as I do it” are usual
mum’s words addressed to the child. Very
soon a little Janus learns the basics of this art.
 Traditions
• For Englishmen there is nothing dearer than traditions. They say
“Traditions are traditions”. In this ever-changing world they give them the
feeling of constancy. They cherish their past by keeping mail boxes red,
green hedge, a man’s coat with the hood, high wellington boots etc.
• Traditional holidays: The biggest are Christmas and Easter Holidays with
Christmas gifts to everybody and Easter cake or hot cross buns with Easter
eggs, nowadays usually made of chocolate (cf. Ukr. custom of a real egg,
hard-boiled, dyed in bright colours and sometimes with elaborately
painted egg-shells).
• Others are: St. Valentine’s Day, Pancake Day, Mother’s Day, London May
Queen Festival, Remembrance (Poppy) Day), Boxing Day, April Fools’ Day,
The Shakespeare Birthday Celebrations, The Bath, The Edinburgh, and The
Welsh Eisteddfod Festivals, Traditional Ceremonies in London of Changing
the Guard, The Ceremony of Keys, Electing London’s Lord Mayor etc.
 Seminar 5. Lifestyle Communicative
Behavioral Patterns in the USA
Contents
1. Financial matters
2. Using public transport
3. Housing
4. Eating out
5. Shopping
6. Travelling about the country
7. Miscellany
8. Studying at an American/British university (see
Tarnopolsky, Sklyarenko (2000) for further details)
 Literature to Seminar 5
1.Тер-Минасова С.Г. Война и мир языков и культур. – М.:
Астрель, 2007. – 286 с. (с. 46 –66).
2.Селіванова О.І., Байкова О.М. Опановуючи англійську мову і
культуру. – Київ: Ленвіт, 2008.
– 126 с. ( с.120 – 122).
2. Стефани Фол. Эти странные американцы. – М.: Эгмонт
Россия, 1999. – 72 с. (с. 35, 48)
3. Э. Майол, Д. Милстед. Эти странные англичане. – М.:
Эгмонт Россия, 1999. – 72 с. (5 – 54)
4. Чхетиани Т.Д. Лингвистические аспекты метакоммуникации.
Автореф. дис. … канд.филол.наук, 1987. – 24 с.
Lifestyle Communicative Behavioral Patterns
(LCBP)
• LCBP are defined as standardized patterns used by
individuals to obtain specific services from social
institutions either human or mechanical (e.g. ATM
– automatic teller machine – to withdraw money,
i.e. entering specific information into it, giving a
message to obtain the required service using a
totally standardized CBP, though there is no human
but a machine to receive the message).
• Underline similarities in this activity in Ukraine
• Students’ life. Methods of teaching differ.
• Aim: to develop innovative, creative thinking and
activity, initiative, have autonomy, and independence
in learning. This concerns, for instance, students’
presentations of research assignments, book reviews
and critiques, term papers, case-studies, role-plays
and simulations, panel discussions and students’
debates.
• Speak about exercises aimed to develop students’
creative thinking and incentives.
• Lectures-interactions. Division of students into small discussion
groups. Their purpose is to discuss the lecture. Would you like to
exert such activity?
• Good facilities for independent work: self-study centers, media
centers, computer labs, printed, audiovisual, software resources,
the Internet, university libraries which work very long hours.
Speak about other advantages you are anxious to have (e.g. to
have Univ. bus to take you ‘from porch to porch!’ at late hours).
• A free access to books (with a request or even demand not to
reshelf the books to avoid disorder). Say what conveniences will
you enjoy in such a case.
• Class-room behavior. Students attend classes regularly, prepare for
them thoroughly and take an active part in classroom discussions.
Have deadline for submitting written papers (written legibly, always
in printed letters).Those which are late will not be accepted with all
the unpleasant consequences for the student. The discipline is strict.
Everyone comes on time. Are dressed informally (slacks, jeans, T-
shirts, sweaters). Professors may conduct classes sitting even on the
table or in armchair or roaming about the room. It is not considered
wrong to interrupt him by asking questions in the course of
lecturing. Such approach is not taken in Ukraine? Why? Account for
it.
• Students often address professors by their first names. Can this be
possible in Ukr. University?
 Instead of conclusion
A list of American traits as described by Ukrainians:
Positive traits Negative traits
1.ability to relax and have fun inability to concentrate
2.informality; self-confidence lack of self-criticism
3.punctuality, friendliness, diligence pragmatism, pragmatic attitude
responsibility to sex
4.readiness to help; politeness too practical, rational, can (sometimes too
artificial) suppress their feelings if they
“can’t afford it”
5.independence, self-respect egotism; think they are the best
6.financial independence; kindness; lack of depth, adherence to rules willingness to
help if their interests and procedures
don’t clash
Which traits can you add? Explain why.
 Instead of conclusion
(continuation)
A list of American traits as described by Russians / Ukrainians:
Positive traits Negative traits
7.sociability, amiability indirectness about
what they expect you
to do for them
8.ability to work hard; lack of sincerity; don’t
desire to be like to have a serious
independent relationship
9. self-confidence; self- overexaggerated individualism;
reliance; ability to adapt. selfishness
 Our Traits Described by Americans
Positive traits
1.culture; erudition
2.ability to survive
•or privacy
3.hospitality; honesty
4.friendly & open when
they know you
5.faith and loyalty to friends
6.generosity
7.honesty (friend are not afraid
to say what they think), help-
fulness
8.warmth
9.straight-forwardness,
down-to- earth
Negative traits
snobbery; supermicism
no respect for personal place
self-depriciation
mean, pushy when they don’t know you
difficult to say “no” to them
sexism
men carrying things for women
(sexism)
insistence that their way is the right
way
prejudiced
 Our Traits Described by Americans
(continuation)
Positive traits Negative traits

10. hospitality(not among) “I’m better than

young though)
11. love of culture, music,
art, land, adaptation
12.interested in you
emotionally & physically
13.loyalty to each other
you” attitude;
don’t like to take risks(with
money, feelings,thoughts);
not hospitable if they
don’t know you;
can take it far & invade
your place
lack of outlook(no plans/goals)
Get ready for module paper