A CROSSCULTURAL STUDY OF AMERICAN AND RUSSIAN PROPRIETIES IN COMMUNICATION* Oxsana Issers1 and Sandra Halvorson2 1Faculty of Philology and Media Omsk State University 55-а Prospect Mira Omsk, Russia, 644077 2College of Communication Florida State University 296 PO Box (Stadium Dr), Tallahassee, FL 32306, United States An examination of eleven intercultural textbooks, used in the field of communication in America, reveals little research comparing Russian and American proprieties in communication (Chen & Starosta, 1998; Dodd, 1998; Jandt, 2004a; Jandt, 2004b; Kelly, Laffoon & McKerrow, 1994; Lustig & Koester, 1996; Martin & Nakayama, 2004; Martin & Nakayama, 2005; Martin, Nakayama & Flores, 2002; Samovar & Porter, 2003; Samovar & Porter, 2001). <...> In order to investigate the similarities and differences (S/D) of the two countries, an instrument was developed containing questions dealing with proprieties and customs appropriate in both cultural settings. <...> In order to maintain language integrity, the 29-item instrument was administered to English speaking students with: 1) no direct exposure to the Russian culture, or 2) direct exposure to the Russian culture. <...> INTRODUCTION Intercultural textbooks, currently used by educators in college classrooms in America, discuss a variety of aspects dealing with communication among international cultures as well as communication among co-cultures in the United States. <...> Each text discusses a large gamut of information ranging from topics dealing with the rationale for studying intercultural communication, world view, family issues, values and perceptions, verbal and nonverbal interaction, educational and business situations as it relates to a variety of countries around the world. <...> Chicago, IL. 146 Issers O., Halvorson S. A Cross-Cultural Study of American and Russian Proprieties in Communication RATIONAL Few intercultural textbooks refer to the Russian culture. <...> Three of the remaining five books (Chen & Starosta, 1998; Lustig & Koester, 1996; Martin & Nakayama, 2005), dedicate one or two sentences to information concerning Russia. <...> Jandt (2004a), in the textbook, An Introduction to Intercultural Communication: Identities in a Global Community, dedicates a little over one page to a discussion of the history of Russia. <...> Martin & Nakayama (2004), in the text, Intercultural Communication in Context, allocate the greatest number of references pertaining to Russia culture found in the textbooks investigated in this research. <...> This research examines the similarities and differences of the Russian and American cultures <...>