Choose any English stereotype of the Americans/Russians and comment on it.

“Have a nice day!”

As a nation which carries the psychological baggage of having been invaded a few times, having repelled invasion a few times, and having done a fair bit of invading ourselves (only to be repelled in turn), it is safe to say the British do not trust strangers who are nice to them. When that niceness comes in the form of a fairly bland wish, issued with a smile by the paid employee of a business or shop that hopes to gain our custom, we get so defensive and suspicious we actually find ways to be irritated by it. “GAH!” we fume, “that’s so AMERICAN! They don’t really MEAN it, and it’s not in my power to make myself have a nice day anyway, so why DO it?” And I think it’s fair to say that this is an over-reaction. What are we going to do about it anyway? Deliberately ruin our day and blame the girl behind the counter at McDonalds? Explain to the man at the coffee bar that it would have been a perfectly nice day had he not spoiled it with his *airquotes* ‘pleasantries’? No. We’re going to just bloody suck it up, like grown-ups.

 

12) What is meant by positive thinking in American culture? Give some examples. (Where Russians go wrong… or individual answers)

Positive thinking means a positive attitude towards life and other people, the belief that, though there may be setbacks, in the long run things will ‘work out’. It is as American as apple pie. It is a sine qua non for success and happiness in all areas of life, in relating to family and friends, at work and at play. For Americans everything is ‘fine’ or ‘great’.

The longstanding tradition of ‘thinking positive’, of showing a ‘positive face’ to the world regardless of how one is really feeling, has had an enormous impact on American language and behaviour. Americans believe that holding to this optimistic point of view makes them feel better. In America no one wants to deal with a negatively minded individual, a whiner or a ‘loser’. A problem is not a reason for despair, it is a challenge to be met head-on and overcome.

For the American, everything in life depends on the individual, who must shoulder full responsibility for his words and actions and ‘go for the gold’. The positive-thinking individuals who have overcome adversity are ‘heroes’ or ‘survivors’.

From a very young age Americans are lectured in school about the importance of good posture, and of standing up straight. Looking healthy and energetic, facing surrounding world – all this is part of the ‘positive’ look.

For example, Scarlet O’Hara’s line from the movie ‘Gone with the Wind’ tomorrow is another day (утро вечера мудренее).

An American is told by his family, friends, neighbours and colleagues to ‘keep smiling’ (что бы ни было, улыбайся).

In the US a smile is fulfilling a social and not an emotional function.

13) What kinds of people do Americans and Russians see as “positive”? (Where Russians go wrong… or individual answers)

The difference between the Russian and American mentalities is visible even in the way they describe individuals. Americans are inevitably struck by the role moral judgments play in the Russian assessment of others.

For an American, the impression person makes rather than personal qualities or a character trait is important.

• Он хороший человек For many Russians, the quality of being "kind" and "fine" is far more important than many other traits such as intelligence, talent, education or tactfulness. "He is a nice person" - for An American it is a much stronger statement than what is implied by the Russian "он приятный человек ". For an American a " nice " is what a Russian mean by хороший добрый. - it is " a fine person " - хороший " he is a extremely kind/ considerate person " - добрый

• Он веселый человек. While speaking about positive person (веселый человек) we couldn't say "he is a cheerful person" this phrase should be rendered as " he is in a good mood" " he has got a great sense of humor".

• Сильная и слабая личность. In describing an individual, the word " character " is used differently in English and Russian. " He is a real character " means he is a strange person. In English we could use the word character only in legal or formal description. Ex: a court witness is a person of good character. An English speaker wouldn't say of a strong or weak person " he has a weak/gentle character " but he could say " he is gentle/weak".

14) Remember some “everyday” words and phrases that reflect American positive thinking. (Where Russians go wrong … or individual answers)

Common errors caused by misinterpretation of America " positive thinking" are

• Приятного аппетита - a smiling waiter in an American restaurant will say " Enjoy!" with a slight rise in the last syllable meaning "I hope that you will enjoy this dish". Not " наслаждайтесь" as some Russians might think. Or " Here you go!" meaning "Now you are served" or " your food is here" but not "you are leaving"

• Incorrect use of OK. Russians assume that this extremely common word OK means something positive.

In some cases it conveys the sense of " fine" "How are things? - Everything OK

But

1) It doesn't mean smth wonderful?

" I am OK, but I have been terribly busy and I am a bit tired".

"The film was OK, but I'm not crazy about it."

2) The repetition of OK conveys the speaker's irritation

"Ok ok, you have already told me twice".

3) OK as "Понятно? Ясно?".

4) Americans put the question on positive form to some one who is obviously NOT all right. Russian " вам плохо"?" Means " Are you OK?"

• "Of course"- the Russian word " конечно" is less forceful. And the response " of course" to the question " shall we meet tomorrow?" Makes the speaker sound annoyed. An appropriate answer will be yes, sure absolutely. The phrase "конечно, я это сделаю"" of course I'll do that" implies that the speaker is asking about something obvious and offensive meaning " what dumb question you're asking!"

(has no idiomatic equivalent in English as from the earliest childhood they were told “do your own work” ”think your self”. Thus in America to refuse someone permission to copy a test would NOT be considered as “ Unfriendly or selfish”)