商务英语写作辅导资料十二
主题：对Unit 12邀请与回复(Business Invitations and Responses)知识点的补充
学习时间：2013年6月17日－6月23日
内容：
An invitation letter is a kind of social letter, either used in the official commercial activity or unofficial social occasion to invite customers, colleagues or friends to attend the ceremony, party, wedding, funeral and so on. According to the occasion, it is divided into formal invitation and informal invitation as follows.
邀请信是很常用的一种社交信函，通常用于邀请客户、同事及朋友参加庆典、晚会、宴会、婚（葬）礼等正式的商务活动或非正式的社交场合。根据场合的不同，邀请信也相应的分为正式与非正式两种，以下进行分别阐述。
1. Formal invitation and replies（重点掌握）
1) Formal invitation is usually applied to grand occasion such as opening ceremony or evening function. There are two types: invitation card and invitation letter, including these main points:
〃reason of inviting, host and guest
〃heading, program, time and place
〃whether any suggested dress code
正式邀请信一般都用于较盛大、隆重的场合，如开业庆典、正式晚宴等，可采取请柬和信函两种形式。
邀请信及请柬的要点应包含：
〃邀请的原因、邀请方法与被邀请方
〃活动名称、日程、具体时间、地点
〃是否有着装方面的要求
A formal invitation letter or invitation card requires the guest’s reply, so it usually adds “RSVP”or “r. s. v. p.”at below on the right side or “Please reply”, “Please send reply to (address)”above the address. It should be avoided to use the abbreviation form such as I’m, I’ve, We’re, You’re. Furthermore, there is a certain format for invitation card, only accessible to the Third Person.
正式邀请信及请柬通常都要求被邀请方回复，因此要在右下角注明法语的缩写“RSVP”或“r. s. v. p.”。或者在邀请主地址的上方写上“Please reply”或“Please send reply to (address)”。正式邀请信中应尽量避免使用I’m, I’ve, We’re, You’re等省略形式；且请柬有一定的格式遵循，只能用第三人称。
Samples of formal invitations and replies
Sample 1
Invitation Cards
Sample 2
Invitation Letters
2) Formal responses Response to invitation card Sample 3
Accepting Invitations
Sample 4
Declining Invitations
Response to invitation letter
The guest should make a reply upon the invitation letter to make clear whether accepting or not. Accordingly, there are formal response and informal response. Response to formal invitation requires official English and Third Person. Firstly, the guest should express his appreciation and then repeat the time, date and place when accepting; if not, besides thanks, he should explain the reason why he cannot attend and show the pity.
被邀请方在收到邀请信后应当立即答复，明确告诉对方拒绝还是接受。根据邀请信，回复也相应地分为正式与非正式两种。正式邀请信的回复，要求使用正式英语，并用第三人称。如果接受邀请，则应先表示感谢，然后重复邀请信中的时间、日期、地点；如果谢绝出席，回复中也应先表示感谢，然后表示遗憾，并具体解释不能出席的原因。
Sample 5
Accepting an Invitation
Sample 6
Declining an Invitation
2. Informal invitations and replies
With simplification of social communication, the informal invitation becomes widespread. Mostly it is sent to some far-away friends or relatives, when inconvenient to inform by words. As long as it can show information in detail, the letter can be either long or short. The first person is often used.
随着社交方式的日趋简化，非正式邀请信的形式越来越普遍。非正式邀请信大多是寄给远方不便口头通知的朋友和亲戚。只要提供详细信息，可以长短不限，一般使用第一人称。
Samples of informal invitation and replies
Sample 7
