Features of verbal communication in languages of different regions of the world: the expression of greetings

Pomortseva Natalia V.,

Doctor of Pedagogy, Professor,

Director of the Institute of the Russian Language;

Head of the Russian Studies, Ethnocentric Pedagogy and

Digital Didactics Department

Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia

e-mail: pomortseva-nv@rudn.ru

https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4224-8138

Yelnikova Svetlana I.,

Candidate of Pedagogy, Associate Professor,

Head of the Russian Language Department No. 3

Institute of the Russian Language

Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia

e-mail: elnikova-si@rudn.ru

Arsenyeva Irina A.,

Candidate of Philology,

Associate Professor of the Russian Language Department No. 3

Institute of the Russian language

Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia

In the context of an internationally oriented university, the issue of interlingual and intercultural interaction plays a significant role. Knowledge of the linguistic and cultural similarities and differences between ethnic groups, as well as information about their unique characteristics, is extremely important, as it contributes to more successful and effective intercultural communication, preventing the formation of conflicts. In order to establish the features of verbal communication in the languages of different regions of the world, the Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia in 2025 conducted an anonymous survey of foreign students from various countries on the topic of “Verbal Communication in your country” about the rules of verbal behavior. The respondents were asked to complete the survey, provide examples in their native language, translate them into Russian, and provide comments if possible. The survey took into account such characteristics of respondents as: age, gender, country and ethnic language — the language of communication of a certain ethnos, providing social interaction and sociocultural relations between its members. The relevance of the survey is that the data obtained as a result of the analysis of the answers will subsequently be able to help teachers of Russian language to better understand the spiritual values, traditions and customs of their students, and for foreign students to avoid potential mistakes in speech etiquette when expressing greetings to each other and to treat each other’s linguistic and cultural features with understanding and tolerance. The study concluded that in the vast majority of languages, there is a distinction between formal and informal greetings, with the exception of a few languages, including those of West and Central Africa. Greetings in European languages contain wishes for health and good; in Asian languages, they contain wishes for harmony, prosperity, happiness, and joy, as well as the component ‘good’ and expressions of care for the other person. In many languages, there are also religious greetings, such as those expressing wishes for peace.

Keywords: intercultural communication, verbal means of communication, communicative act, linguoculture, formal and informal forms of greeting, effective communication

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