Russian Journal of LinguisticsRussian Journal of LinguisticsRussian Journal of Linguistics2687-00882686-8024Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia named after Patrice Lumumba (RUDN University)9382ArticlesСтатьиArticlesResearch Article“You must, pardon, you should” - Being polite across cultures«Вы обязаны, простите, вы должны» - вежливость в разных культурахAlcina Maria Pereira de Sousa-Алсина Мария Перейра де Соуза-доктор, профессорninita@uma.ptUniversity of Madeira, Arts and Humanities CentreУниверситет Мадейры, Португалия150420144NO4 (2014)№4 (2014)445909092016Copyright ©; 2014, Alcina Maria Pereira de Sousa -.Copyright ©; 2014, Алсина Мария Перейра де Соуза -.Copyright ©; 2014, Alcina Maria Pereira de Sousa -.2014Alcina Maria Pereira de Sousa -.Алсина Мария Перейра де Соуза -.Alcina Maria Pereira de Sousa -.https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0https://journals.rudn.ru/linguistics/article/view/9382Drawing on an empirical study undertaken in 1998-9 and 2008, this paper suggests a renewed and refreshing view (Micklos 2001: 5) on an ever-problem posing issue as is the role of modality in communicative and intercultural competence. In fact, this diachronic case study aims at reassessing some evidence on EFL learners’/undergraduates’ reading habits in a FL context, grounded on empirical research undertaken in Madeira Island in 1998-1999 compared with data collected in 2008. The former involved a representative number of informants: 12 th form Humanities students ( n = 197) and first- and second-year undergraduates ( n = 57) taking English - Joint Honours - at the University of Madeira. Their response to a questionnaire on reading habits, purposes, strategies and text types in English as a foreign language, has offered renewed insights on a changing trend in the use of modals by EFL undergraduates for global communication. The analysis of respondents’ use of modals (1998/9-2008) unearths a shifting cline from the use of “must” to “should”. 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