The classic work of a well-known linguist, V.V.Kabakchi, investigates the cultural component of language and focuses on cultures compatibility. The volume contains mostly Russian-speaker-oriented tasks, and thus, obviously, targets Russian-speaking learners of English or, vv, English speakers interested in Russian language or/and culture. And yet even those who don't know a word in Russian will find here tons of fascinating tips on culture of Russia, English-speaking countries, France and much more.
It can be an abundant source of reading material, a discussion-starter, an exercise for VERY advanced translators and, last but not least - it also contains an invaluable supplementary part (p. 415) with things like transliteration rules, how to translate in English purely post-Soviet honourable titles and administrative divisions etc., names of people and places and so on.
And it's simply just exciting. Check, for example, pieces on ‘Drinking Vodka Russian Style’ (p. 218), or ‘Parisian Ladies’ (p.101) or, – oh, my favourites! – ‘Come-on-Down-to-Washington’ welcoming letter (p. 98) and ‘Essential Guide’ on how to eat eggs artistically J (p. 185). The book’s only drawback is absence of any sort of navigation around it, so you’ll have to figure it out by yourself.
Кабакчи В.В. Практика англоязычной межкультурной коммуникации.
Классика
жанра. Автор исследует культурную составляющую языка и проблемы
соотносимости культур. Большинство заданий нацелены на русскоговорящего
читателя, но даже те, кто не говорит по-русски, найдут здесь море
потрясающих текстов о культурных привычках русских, англичан,
американцев, французов и тд.Книга может служить источником текстов для
чтения, задаст тему для дискуссии в классе, и, кроме того, поможет
перевести вещи вроде «кандидат наук» или «заслуженный мастер спорта» -
на эту тему советую внимательно пролистать Приложение в конце книги (со
стр. 415)
