The Role of English in the Acquisition of Intercultural Competence by Russian Students

Abstract

The article illustrates the interaction of the language and social behavior which has acquired special significance in the 21^st century, conditioned by the development of various cultural links. Underlining the obstacles connected with the differences in the cultures and mentality of different nations in understanding the language, the author attaches importance to the investigation of the core values and ethics of the given nation. In case of England, the relevance of politeness in various forms of request and command becomes a priority.
The article aims to introduce some of the mechanisms of polite command and request to Russian students of English. However, the focus of the investigation is on euphemism as an important element of polite speech.