The_Differences_between_Western_Invitation_and_Eastern_Invitation

中西方邀请文化的不同

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The Differences between Western Invitation and Eastern Invitation

Let me start the research with an excerpt from a letter written by Andy to his friend James. I am sure you will get something.

Dear James,

Teaching in China is a real pleasure, but people here can sometimes be a little mean with their hospitality. Yesterday I was invited to an official banquet in the evening by the university. As you know, I enjoy Chinese food and would have loved to have gone, but for some reason Janet was not included in the invitation. Naturally I couldn t accept and leave the dear old wife at home so I had to make an excuse to get out of it. Can t think why they should want to snub her in that way, but it has made both of us feel that we are not really welcome…

From the letter, we may see a sharp cultural difference here and may realize that lack of such differences may lead to misunderstanding, even to the extent of a good-will gesture being taken amiss. Andy is a foreign teacher teaching in a Chinese university. He received an invitation to an official banquet given by the university, but he didn t accept it. He complained that his wife was not invited and he thought that they not welcome. You may think that Andy s accusation of meanness is unfair-his hosts were not being ungenerous. However, his complaint is understandable given his lack of knowledge of Chinese customs. Expectations about when spouses should be included in invitations differ between China and the West. Generally speaking for invitations to any meal taking place in the evening, ranging from those given at someone s home

中西方邀请文化的不同

through to dining out together or attending formal banquets, both husband and wife will be included. This is not expected in the case of mid-day meals, probably because couples often work in different places and some jobs involve taking a working lunch with clients or colleagues. Here in China, however, it is quiet common for only the husband or wife to be invited to a meal, either in work units or between friends, and neither husband nor wife will feel offended if one of them is not invited.

Let us talk about the conventional dialogue between two English people who

know each other well. Michael greets Peter, Hi, Peter, how s things going? It is informal greeting between acquaintances. Before giving the invitation, Michael

asks, Look, what are you up to this Friday? Such a question is asked for the intention of invitation here. Michael expresses his invitation in this way, We are wondering if you and Jean would like to come over to our place for a bite to eat. And peter replies, Sounds lovely. As English dinner usually revolve around one main course rather that many different dishes, hosts often ask beforehand whether guests do not like anything to avoid everyone being disappointed. There is also a sizable minority of vegetarians, and hosts would not enjoy the planned roast . A roast is a large piece of meat such as a leg of lamb or a chicken cooked inside an oven. It is usually served with potatoes and one or two other vegetables such as cabbage and carrots.

Li Hong is a university student. Her class is going to have a party on Saturday

evening and her classmates ask her to invite their British teacher, Jane, to the party. Jane is married and her husband is called John. One way in which the conversation might run is like this:

中西方邀请文化的不同

Li: Hi, Jane, we are going to have a party in our classroom this Saturday

evening. We were wondering whether you and John would like to come.

Jane: Oh, great, love to. When will it begin? Li: At seven. Jane: Thank you! Look forward to it. Before oral invitations, people may send written invitations. A very formal written invitation: Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Request the pleasure of the company of Mr. Frederick Parsons At dinner On Tuesday, 11 June at 8.30 p.m. Please reply 9 Mill Lane Leeds At last, let us see how English native speakers negotiate a time to meet. Their

way of setting on a time is quite similar to our own, that is, normally one gives or suggests a time, then the other may find it not suitable and suggest another time, and finally a time is fixed which suits both. However, if a person who is invited doesn t want to accept the invitation, things tend to be somewhat different. For instance, an English native speaker s explanation for not being able to go is usually short and not detailed, simply by saying I am sorry, I cannot get away or I am tied up the whole week or I have got something fixed up for then . A Chinese speaker s explanation, on the other hand, tends to be more detailed and longer to assure the person who

中西方邀请文化的不同

invites that he s really got something important to do and he usually makes cleaner what he is going to do. The purpose of doing so, as we say, to give the other person face , to reassure the other person of our esteem for them. Thus, if a Chinese person gives a detailed explanation to an English native speaker who issues an invitation, the English native speaker may feel that the detailed explanation is not really necessary. Conversely, the English native speaker s short, undetailed explanation may strike us as a bit impolite if we are unaware of their customs.

1. What are the differences in the concepts of friends between the Chinese and

American cultures?

An American may feel that a friend needs privacy to “work out” a problem. Many Americans want such time alone when they have problems. So American may want to give you your privacy even if you don t want it, while a Chinese friend may be with you all the time when you are in trouble, neglecting your privacy, because they don t have the concept of “privacy” between friends.

2. Discuss the feasibility of a synthesis of Eastern culture and Western

culture.

Eastern culture and Western culture have their unique characteristics, including both the advantages and disadvantages. It is really great to see the synthesis of them. And in reality, Eastern culture and Western culture have a trend to blend with each other, with the frequent communication among international countries. So it is possible to see a synthesis of Eastern culture and Western culture in future.

中西方邀请文化的不同

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