Лучшие эссе студентов МАХУ – победителей международного конкурса (для параллельного чтения на двух языках)
общения, чем знание иностранного языка или хотя бы некоторых незаменимых слов (международных или культурно обусловленных). Речь идет не только о знакомстве с самими средствами, но и о синхронизации речевого и неречевого поведения. Общение похоже на плавание: ваши руки и ноги должны двигаться в гармонии, и вам лучше знать что-нибудь о море и повадках его обитателей. Когда их впервые бросают в воду, большинство детей испытывают восторг от того, что они умеют плавать. Некоторые, однако, спешат на берег, чтобы никогда больше не ступать в воду. Пусть же все вдохновятся на кругосветное плавание и получат от этого удовольствие!
Cross-cultural communication: culture shock or clash of cultures? / Межкультурная коммуникация: культурный шок или столкновение культур?
“We are one and different, our plurality is not antagonistic, our diversity is enriching, our identity is multiple, but we all belong to one God, one humanity.”
Sanaa Osserian
The process of globalization, which is now at its apogee, began in the 15th century, when the Europeans discovered lands unknown before. Initial shock associated with differences in mentality gave way to curiosity and subsequent exploration. The spread of Christianity, reconciling to some extent the countries of its influence, gave a spur to unification of cultures, but it did not become a universal means for solving the problems of misunderstanding, since Christianity itself was heterogeneous in different countries.
There is no single idea or system to fully unite two different cultures. The conqueror never absorbs the sub-culture completely. The mental characteristics and traditions of different people have always merged, forming amazing combinations like mixed colors on a palette. There are historical parallels, such as the development of Siberia by the Russians, as well as building the Empire by the British, determining their self-identification and attitude to other nations.
Being the heart of the Empire, England can provide countless examples of artistic influence of its former colonies. The Royal Pavilion in Brighton mixing Regency grandeur with the visual style of India and China can be regarded as one of them. The influence of Indian colonies is also noticeable in the English language and literature whereas the Russians borrowed from the representatives of the Far North methods of movement like dog sledding and kayaking, which were later used for polar research. The historical destinies of both England and Russia had a direct impact on Intercultural Communication.
Two neighbours may misunderstand each other even if they speak the same language. What happened when representatives of so original, with centuries-old traditions, cultures (English and Russian) first met? The history of Russian-British diplomatic and trade relations is usually counted from the middle of the 16th century, when the traveler Richard Chancellor brought Edward VI’s letter and in February 1554 received the tsar’s reply declaring the right of the English to trade duty-free in Russia.
The journey of Chancellor was noted in Russian Chronicles, and also sung by the British poets – William Warner and Michael Drayton. The information published by travelers, quickly spread in the English society of the 16th century. There are numerous references to Muscovy in the works of British literature and on the stage. Russian books appeared in British libraries as a result of frequent embassies, and the British had a desire to learn the Russian language. In the interests of trade, Queen Elizabeth even took care of training a staff of translators.
The English exported cloth into the Russian Tsardom and produced their own heavy cables here. Then, the English navy relied almost exclusively on Russian cordage supplied by the Muscovy Company. English merchants brought cargoes of wax, flax, tallow and ship timber from Russia. Thus, Russian resources became the main raw material for the creation of a powerful British fleet, thanks to which England was called the “mistress of the seas”.
However, in the 16th century, the difference between the goals, pursued by Britain and Russia, got clearly visible. The Queen’s interests were limited to trade, while Russian tsar persistently sought a political alliance against Poland and the Livonian order, implying aid in money and military actions, as well as dynastic ties. The wedding policy of the Russian Tsar, who proposed to the Queen’s niece, Mary Hastings, caused confusion at the English court.
Misunderstanding about the form of government, ethics and morality (evident in the works of Giles Fletcher, Jerome Horsey and other foreigners, who wrote about Russia) were not solely on the part of the British. Being abroad, the Russian tsar’s envoys wanted to be honored in accordance with their nobility and the position at court. Once an ambassador interrupted his visit being offended that the queen decided to meet him in the garden. Elizabeth I, on the contrary, gave such a reception as a sign of her special favour. After the death of Ivan the Terrible, Russian-British ties weakened and revived somewhat only under Boris Godunov, whose reign was characterized by an imperial scope of plans and active involvement of foreign masters, doctors and other specialists. For the purpose of creating a University, Godunov made an attempt to invite scientists from different countries to Russia and sent eighteen young men to study abroad (one century before Peter’s pensioners’ trips).
Relations between Russia and Britain became livelier in the middle of the 17th century when knowledge of each other’s customs accumulated. Londoners showed interest and sympathy for the events of the Russian “troubles” which were vividly described in street newspapers. In the mid-17th century, Russian ambassadors, in their turn, witnessed the state upheavals in Britain. When Charles I was beheaded, the diplomatic relations were ruptured. On the first of June 1649, Alexei Mikhailovich (to whom the execution of the monarch was an absolutely unacceptable thought) issued a decree expelling all British merchants. At the same time in Britain the Puritans closed all the theaters which since Shakespeare’s time served as a means of disseminating information about “Muscovy”. Soon after the restoration of the monarchy in England, count Carlyle (who had arrived to bridge the diplomatic gap) gave a performance at the Embassy house in Moscow on Pokrovka. This performance came at the time of the formation of the Russian theater.
As historical examples prove, economic interests can be a mighty vehicle for peace-building if fear and prejudice are not the underlying basis of nations’ protective identity. In 1698 Peter I visited England. According to V. O. Klyuchevsky’s opinion, first and foremost in the West, Peter was looking for technology. The tsar brought home 800 foreign specialists: officers, engineers, doctors … The Kingdom impressed him with its order and moderation so much, though, that the English influence can be traced in the creation and construction of the Navy, industrial manufactories, banks and other spheres of life. It was Peter the Great who actually laid the foundations of the modern trade and political relations with England.
In the 18th century Russia discovered the achievements accumulated by Western European civilization which contributed to the intensive development of its own culture. Catherine II fostered the publication of periodicals, founded an art gallery, issued an order for mandatory inoculation and showed a personal example.