Russian Communication Research Articles

Interpersonal communication: qualities and culture

This essay introduces a special issue of the Russian Journal of Communication on “New Directions in Russian Interpersonal Communication Research”. The essay includes a brief overview of the field of interpersonal communication and discussion of a component often absent from its conceptualization, culture. The authors offer a new way of treating interpersonal communication, focusing on the situated study of interactional forms, structures, their cultural functions and meanings. Synopses of the five articles in the special issue are given, with these used to illustrate distinctive features of Russian interpersonal communication in some scenes and how interpersonal communication is culturally patterned and shaped.

Silent and Slow Estonians, Emotional and Fast Russians: A Comparative Study of Communication Stereotypes in Two Neighboring Countries

The purpose of this study was to examine the auto- and heterostereotypes of Estonians and Russians as communicators. A Communication Stereotypes Questionnaire was developed for this study. The results showed that the communication stereotypes varied essentially among Estonians and Russians, whereas the stereotypes of Russians living in Estonia and Russians living in Russia did not differ remarkably. The comparison of stereotype profiles demonstrated that the stereotypes of Estonians and both Russian samples were opposite to each other. The ideal communicator was characterized rather similarly by all groups, mostly featuring qualities typical of the Russian communication stereotype.

Subject of Subordinate Clause as Object with Verbs of Perception, Thought, and Communication in Old Russian

This paper describes the Old Russian construction involving verbs of perception, thought, and communication. In this construction, a single semantic argument corresponds to two syntactic constituents: a direct object and a finite subordinate clause, the subject of which is coreferential with the direct object of the main clause. The Old Russian construction is seen as an instantiation of a cross-linguistic option in the argument structure of these verbs (above all, of the perception verbs), that is, to take the subject of the subordinate clause as the direct object.

Cultural Differences in Politeness Based on Analysis of Russian and English Communication Styles

Cultural Differences in Politeness Based on Analysis of Russian and English Communication Styles

Thoughts on the Development of the Communication Discipline in the United States and Russia

An earlier version of this paper was prepared as a response to the Russian Communication Association’s panel on “The Study of Communication in Russia: State and Perspectives,” at the International Communication Association Convention in Montréal, Canada, May 2008. Papers on the panel included: Galina V. Sinekopova, The Discipline of Communication in the U.S. and Russia: Field Notes; Olga Leontovich, Controversial Issues in Russian Communication Study; Irina Privalova, Communicating Worldviews: Linguistic, Cultural and Social Interaction; and Irina Nickolaevna Rozina & Victoria I. Tuzlukova, Social and Cultural Contexts of Internet-Based Research Communities.

The cellular communication market in Russia: From extensive to intensive development

The Russian cellular communication market is analyzed, as are its structure and the operating and financial indicators of companies’ performance. Predictive estimates of this market up to 2011 are presented proceeding from a detailed analysis of the principal cost items of cellular operators and under assumption of future changes in their dynamics. In order to substantiate a cost-structure-based market forecast demand restraints on the part of cellular service consumers are considered and to this end the concept of cellular communication consumption function is introduced.

Social Networks among Russian Information and Communication Technology Professionals

This article analyses the extent to which the economic actions of Russian information and communication technology (ICT) professionals are embedded in and influenced by their personal networks. The study is based on empirical data collected in 2004 in St Petersburg, one of the strongholds of Russian ICT. By focusing on the personal networks among the St Petersburg professionals the article seeks to illuminate the role and function of social ties in economic decisions. What are their significant social relations like? What kinds of resources get distributed through these ties? Answering these questions helps both to refine the notion of the ‘social embeddedness’ of economic action and to shed light on the nature of the new Russian economy.

Development of the Orlan Space-Station antenna

The design of the Crew-Lock antenna for the Russian communication and data system [for the International Space Station] was challenging, because it is enclosed in a conducting shell. In addition, the electromagnetic-field distribution within the Crew Lock is highly constrained by the lowest one or two normal modes of the structure. Two kinds of antennas were investigated to address the requirements: a half loop and a loaded patch. Computer modeling of these approaches was done by the finite-element and moment methods, respectively. The loop antenna underwent extensive scale-model testing, and some full-scale tests at Johnson Space Center in Houston. The patch antenna was eliminated during the full-scale tests. The final design is the "towel-bar" loop, which performs the additional function of a handrail for astronauts during the ingress and egress for extra-vehicular activity (EVA).

Orbit and Attitude Control Systems of Russian Communication, Geodetic and Navigation Spacecraft

Research and Production Association (RPA) “Applied Mechanics” (NPO PM) is the Russian leader in development, manufacture and exploitation of navigation, geodetic and communication spacecrafts, and also on Russian State programme for development of satellite telecommunication systems. This paper presents the research results achieved by NPO PM in motion control of such spacecrafts, and outlines recent perspective directions of developments presently carried out by NPO PM for orbit and attitude control systems solving most actual cosmonautics' problems of the 3d millenium.

Speech communication in Russia

This study reports the results of a survey given to Russian educators to assess the status of speech communication instruction in Russia. A stratified random survey was distributed by the Sociological Center of the State Committee on Higher Education of the Russian Federation to 2,200 Russian educators. Results suggest that most Russian educators are not familiar with speech communication as an academic discipline. Even though 40% of the respondents disagreed that speech communication should be included in the Russian curriculum, half of the respondents agreed or strongly agreed that it should be included in the Russian curriculum. Most respondents agreed that if introduced to Russians, it should be included first in higher education, beginning with only one class included as part of a curriculum offered by another more traditional Russian academic department. Russian educators valued communication skills less than did U.S. personnel managers. Of the respondents 85% in the current study were unsure concerning whether they would be interested in personally teaching speech communication; 15% of the respondents indicated they would be interested in teaching speech communication. No respondents completely rejected the idea of teaching speech communication. Suggestions for establishing speech communication instruction in Russia are presented.

Russian Male Gestures for Greeting and Bidding Farewell

This article describes the results of gender based research into Russian nonverbal communication. Based on an analysis of dictionaries of Russian nonverbal communication, as well as examples from Russian belles lettres and films, for the first time a list of masculine gestures has been established that are traditionally used by Russians for greetings and farewells. This article proposes an original classification of gestures.

The development of a Russian communication satellite of small class, operating in the geostationary and high-elliptical orbits

In 1994–1995 Lavochkin Association (Russia) together with the other enterprises in accordance with technical requirements of the Russian Space agency, developed a new Russian communication satellite of a small class that will operate in both the geostationary (GSO) and high-elliptical (HEO) orbits. This satellite may be injected into operational orbits using a SOYUZ-2 launch vehicle (LV) and a FREGAT upper stage (US) from Plesetsk and Baykonur space launch sites (SLS).The main reason for creating such a satellite was to decrease the cost of the support and development of the Russian communication geostationary satellites group.Russian satellites Horizont, Express, Ekran and Gals, which operate in GSO, are the basis of the space segment for communications, radio and TV broadcasting. All of these satellites are injected into GSO by the PROTON LV. PROTON is a launch vehicle of a heavy class. The use of a middle class LV instead of a heavy class will allow to reduce considerably the launch cost. The change of a heavy class LV to a LV of middle class determined one economic reason for this project. Besides, the opportunity to launchS/C into GSO from Russian Plesetsk SLS increases the independence of Russia in the domain of space communications, despite the presence of the contract with Kazachstan about the rent of Baykonur SLS. Finally, use of small satellites with a rather small number of transponders is more effective than the use of big satellites. It will allow also to increase a satellite group (by the launch of additional satellites) precisely in accordance to the development of the ground segment.

Russian communication orientations: A cross‐cultural examination

This study examined the relationships among perceptions of willingness to communicate, communication responsiveness, communication apprehension, introversion, and assertiveness of college students in Russia. Comparative analyses were made with studies conducted in the United States (U.S.), Sweden, Finland, Australia, Micronesia, and Puerto Rico. Comparisons among the cultural groups indicated Russian students perceived themselves as lower in competence and willingness to communicate than other countries, except for Micronesians. Russian students also indicated the second highest degree of introversion following the Swedish students. Comparisons between Russian and U.S. students revealed significant differences of orientations. Analysis between Russian male and female students indicated that significant gender differences exist. Results confirm that culture is an essential element when analyzing communication orientations.