O. A. Leontovich "RUSSIANS AND AMERICANS: PARADOXES OF CROSS-CULTURAL COMMUNICATION". - Volgograd: Peremena, 2002. - 435p.

The monograph presents a systemic model of cross-cultural communication between Russians and Americans. It discusses the basic principles of interaction between the two cultures and languages, the main components, models, and mechanisms of communication, as well as the notion of intercultural transformation. Special attention is given to different types of verbal and non-verbal factors, producing noises in US-Russian communication, and the ways to overcome them.

The book is intended for undergraduate and graduate students, linguists, communication scholars, and other people interested in the problems of intercultural contacts.

CONTENT

Foreword.

Chapter 1. Cross-cultural communication as a specific type of interaction.

§1. Cross-cultural communication theory: historical aspect.
§2. Paradoxes of cross-cultural communication.
§3. Specific features of cross-cultural communication.
§4. Understanding as a goal of cross-cultural communication.

Chapter 2. Interaction of linguocultures as the basis of cross-cultural communication.

§1. Communication, culture, and language.
§2. Comparative analysis of Russian and American linguocultures.
§3. The use of American English in intercultural communication.

Chapter 3. Russian and American linguocultural personalities.

§1. An individual as a product and bearer of a linguoculture.
§2. Russian and American conceptospheres.
§3. Transformation of a worldview in intercultural communication.
§4. Identity of a linguistic personality.

Chapter 4. Communicative noises and ways to overcome them.

§1. Noises as the reason for communication errors.
§2. Asymmetry in US-Russian cross-cultural communication.
§3. The "distorted glass' of stereotypes.
§4. Verbal noises.
§5. National specifics of non-verbal communication.
§6. Differences in communicative strategies.
§7. Differences in the norms of etiquette.
§8. Criteria of success in cross-cultural communication and ways of its optimization.

Conclusion.

Bibliography.

Appendix.