TIONAL AND CULTURAL SPECIFICITY OF INITIAL REPLICAS IN RUSSIAN AND CHINESE SPEECH ETIQUETTE OF ACQUAINTANCE

Abstract

The article examines the speech behavior ethnic and cultural specifics of native Russian and Chinese speakers in the genre of introductions. The subject of the study is analyzed in terms of the speech strategies and tactics characteristic of native speakers in both languages. The reasons for the choice of these strategies and their connection to cultural traditions and the social structure of Russia and China are explored. Etiquette-based speech patterns can also be explained by the specific features of social structure and how this structure influences interpersonal communication. It is shown that strategies for meeting foreigners differ from those typical for Russian and Chinese speech cultures, as the foreigner is typically outside the accepted hierarchy in these societies. This circumstance requires greater communicative effort to define their social role and demonstrate one’s own, which is essential for successful communication.