ИСТИНА

Language reflects life, this is common knowledge: language is a mirror of anthropological culture, which is a way of life. This is its “passive” function. But what is more important nowadays: language also makes or creates both life and the people who use the language as a means of communication. This is its active function. In this paper both functions which are, of course, indissolubly connected will be illustrated by the material of both languages under study: English and Russian. Consequently, the difference between the national characters formed by the languages will be seen quite clearly. The illustrations will be given from both vocabulary and, mostly, grammar. The latter seems to be more interesting because it is better hidden and not so straightforward and obvious as the former. The paper deals with both linguistic and cultural studies which are intertwined, interdependent, and charged with language and anthropological culture to the utmost possible degree. These issues will be illustrated, firstly, to show the part the English language and the British culture play in forming the English/British national character and, secondly, to demonstrate how in the era of globalization the English language and American culture influence and recreate languages and cultures of the speakers of other languages. The illustrations will be given from the two above-mentioned worlds: the English-speaking and the Russian-speaking ones.