It may sound unexpected but strict grammar rules simplify communication making the English language very attractive to foreigners. For example, you can easily turn criticism into advice just choosing different infinitive forms. To promote better understanding English has done away with all that unnecessary fuss over nouns and adjectives: masculine, feminine and singular, plural… Another advantage of English is that it has a vast vocabulary since English has absorbed something from every language and culture with which it encountered throughout the history of its formation. One site gives 33 synonyms to “yes” (the Russian language dictionary contains 44 ones) and adds three more pages of words related to ‘yes’.
The right word at the right moment can make all the difference to a successful social encounter. Fortunately, there are two words in particular that will endear the visitor to Brits of all ranks and conditions. These most estimable of exclamations are “lovely” and “nice”, which can be approximately equal (in frequency of use) to American “really?” or “well”, while Russian tourists prefer “OK” (leaving the slang aside). All these words can express anything you want to put into them and emphasize it with your intonation: surprise, admiration, anger, approval, joy, grief, etc.
The English are not very ‘tactile’ or physically expressive. They perceive graceful gestures as a sign of theatricality (insincerity), femininity or a foreign origin. They rely on words, not given too much touching or gesticulating. Even handshakes used at business meetings worldwide lead to confusion. The “brash American” approach, “Hi, I’m Bill from Iowa,” particularly if accompanied by an outstretched hand and beaming smile, makes the English wince and cringe.
In American culture, in addition to its international function, a smile is a social sign of prosperity. The automatism of the American smile is so great that Hillary Clinton smiles at photographers even at Princess Diana’s funeral ceremony. Keep smiling is the motto of the American way of life: “whatever happens, smile.” At the same time, Americans find that at the initial stage of communication with strangers, Russian people are too sullen. “Russia scares me,” Muhammad Ali said, “people on buses look as serious as if they were going to have an electric chair.” Russian people may consider the constant American polite smile a manifestation of insincerity. That is why they do not smile in response to an accidental eye contact. Similarly, in England students are taught to keep face whatever happens, stay calm and not to make a fuss. The true Englishman faces doom and disaster with a stiff upper lip and does not bat an eyelid (the similar Russian proverb deals with a nose). “I get the impression,” said one frustrated American, “that at some fundamental level the English just don’t believe things could work properly, especially compared with America.” Americans expect good service and value for money – and if their expectations are not met, they get pissed off and sue somebody. English people mostly do not expect particularly good service or products, and when their pessimistic assumptions are confirmed, they say, “Huh! Typical!”