INVITATION

When you want someone to attend an event that you host, you can send an
invitation. Invitation can be written on a card, a letter or an Email. Shorter invitation
such as one to a wedding party, birthday party are usually written on a card and the
longer one like invitation to celebrate school or office anniversary usually written in
a letter.
 Social function : to request the attendance of a particular person, group of
people, or representative of an organization at a particular event.
 Language features:
(1) Verb in present tense for example invite, attend etc.
(2) Verb in future tense; will take place, will start, will celebrate
The information that should be included in an invitation is as follows:
 The information about the host (name, address)
 The information about the event (name, purpose, date, time and location)
 Special instruction (e.g dresscode, direction to the location)
 RSVP information (contact person, phone number)
Formal invitation is an invitation which follows a dignified form, tone or style in
agreement with the established norms custom or values (Websters, 2012)
For Example :
 An invitation to the opening of a school
 An invitation to the graduation ceremony
 An invitation to a wedding,
etc. Common format of a formal
invitation (Card):
 The first line is the name of the person who invites.
 The second line is the request for participation
 The third line is the name of the person (s) invited
 The fourth line is the occasion for invitation
 The fifth line is the time and date of the occasion
 Th sixth line is the place of the occasion
 The last line is the request for reply

Common Structure of a formal invitation (letter):

(1) Heading (address of the host; optional)

(2) Inside address (address of the invitee).
(3) Salutation (Opening Greeting).
(4) Body of the (gives the details of the place, date and time of the event
and other information related to the event).
(5) Complimentary Close.
(6) Signature.

1) Heading
Heading usually covers the address of the sender and the date when the
letter is being written. On the first line, write your apartment number, postal
box, rural route number, and your street address1 (whatever applies to your
address). The second line gives your city, town, or village, and the province
name, and postal code2. On the third line, write the month, the day and the
year you are writing the letter.

2) Inside address
The inside address is placed at the left margin, two spaces below the heading
and contains the receiver’s full name, title, and address.
3) Salutation
The salutation is placed two spaces below the inside address. The salutation
or greeting depends on how well-acquainted the sender and the addresses are.
You can notice the table below on how to write the salutation;

Addressee Salutation
A person who is not known Dear
to the sender Sir/Madam,
 Sir/Madam,
Dear Sirs
A person who is known to Dear Mr. Singh,/
the sender. Ms. Bose,/ Mrs. Methew,

4) Body
The body of the letter is, of course, what the letter is all about. It begins two
spaces below the salutation. You should single space within paragraphs and
double space between them. The body of the letter consists of the
introduction, the main message and the conclusion.
5) Complimentary close
The conclusion of all letters is a brief phrase showing respect called the
complimentary closing which is placed two spaces below the body. Only
the first word of this closing is capitalized. Notice the table below on how to
write the complimentary closing;
Salutation Complimentary Closing
Dear Yours faithfully,
Sir/Madam,
Sir/Madam,
Dear Sirs,
Dear Mr. Singh,/ Yours sincerely
Ms. Bose,/ Mrs. Mehta

6) Signature
The signature follows the complimentary close. The name of the sender must
also beincluded under the signature. It appears in brackets along the writer’s
designation .

Some phrases that are used in FORMAL INVITATION.

Inviting Accepting Declining

 WouidNote
you like to...  That’s very kind of you.  I am very sorry, i don’t
 I’d very much like you to...  We’d very much like to...
RSVP or R.S.V.P. is adopted from French word réspondez s-ilvous thinkplait
i can.which means
 We please should  What
answer. The receiver of thea invitation
delightful must
idea. tell the host
 I’dwhether
like to, but...
they plan to
be
attend the event or not.  With the greatest pleasure.  I’m afraid i’ve
pleased/delighted if you already promised...
could...  Thank you very much to  Thank you for asking me,
 Would you care to... inviting me. but...
 You will... wont you?  Unfortunately, I can’t

Some phrases that are used in INFORMAL INVITATION.

Inviting Accepting Declining

 Why don’t you come to...  I would/will.  Sorry, I can’t.

 Like to come to...  That would be very nice.  I’d love to, but...
 Come and...  OK.  I don’t think I can’t.
 Shall we come to...  I’d like to love to come.  Thank you for asking me,
 You must come to...  All right (then). but...
 Unfortunately, I can’t

Responding to formal invitations

Example:

1. Acceptance
- Mr. and Mrs. Eri Utomo accept with pleasure the kind invitation of Mr.and Mrs. Pujiyanto to
the wedding ceremony of their daughter on Friday, the twelfth of December at seven o' clock.
 - Mr. and Mrs. Wibowo accept the invitation with pleasure.
2. Declining/ Regret
- Mr. and Mrs. Situmorang regret that they are unable to accept the kind invitation of Mr. and
Mrs. Pujiyanto for Friday, the twelfth of December at seven o' clock due to prior engagement.
- Mr. And Mrs. Wibowo regret to decline the invitation due to health reasons.
3. Responding card
The responding card comes with the invitation card. This card should preferably be hand written.

RSVP
You may often read in written invitations the term “RSVP”, where a telephone
number is ussually included . RSVP is derived from the French phrase réspondez s-
ilvous plait, which means “ please respond”. The RSVP etiquette began in the
French Court in the late 18th century. It has long been widely used in Western
cultures.
RSVP is request for the people being invited (invitees) to confirm whether they plan
to attend the event or not. Event hosts need to estimate the number of
participants in order to better plan the event, for example, to plan seating, to order
food, goody bagsy, etc.
In most Western cultures, invitees are expected to respond to RSVPs. It is
inconsiderate not to, because it will make it fifficult for the host to plan the event
efficiently. A response card often comes with a wedding invitation, where you can
write your information and state whether you will attend or not. So the next time
you see RSVP on an invitation, please contact the host as soon as possible.

LEMBAR KERJA PESERTA DIDIK

LEMBAR AKTIVITAS PESERTA DIDIK (Pertemuan ke 2)
Task 1

Identify the generic structure, social function, and language feature of the invitation
below

Belfast University
Office of the Provost
284 Scholars Avenue, Belfast, BT1 4AB
10 October, 2018

Mr John Stevens 123

Anywhere Lane
Belfast
BT1 5CD

Dear Mr Stevens,

In honour of the appointment of Dr Everett Jones as president of Belfast University, we

have planned a banquet on the fourteenth of July. We request the pleasure of your
company for the banquet at Knowledge Hall, 24 Scholars Avenue, Belfast. The event will
open with a welcome address by Dean James Smith and will be followed by formal toasts
by fellows of the University. Dinner will be served at 7.30pm. We will be glad to have you
with us. Please accept our invitation and confirm your attendance.

RSVP
Emily Black
Email/Phone : Bocahsoe@gmail.com/6789998212
Your sincerely,

Jean Brown

TASK 2

Match the text structure of the formal invitation with their definition.

HOST The receiver of the invitation must tell

the host whether they plan to attend the
event or not.
SALUTATION It always ends with a comma. The
traditional rule of etiquette is that a formal
letter starting “Dear Sir/Madam” must end
“yours faithfully” while a letter starting
“Dear Mr.......................” must end “your
sincerelly”
 INSIDE A person who invites guests to a meal, a
party, etc. Or who has people staying at
their house

BODY It normally begins with the word “Dear”

and always includes the person’s title and
last name. If you don’t know the name or
the sex of your receiver, write “Dear
Madam/Sir or Dear Sales Manager, or Dear
Human Resources Director.

COMPLIMENTARY CLOSE The last part following the closing and the
name of writer below it

REQUEST TO RESPONSE It is the recipient’s address. It is always

best to write to a specific individual at the
firm to which you are writing. Include a
personal title such as Ms., Mr., or Dr. It
begins one line below the sender’s or one
inch below the date.

SIGNATURE It is where you explain why you are

writing. It is the main part of the letter.
Use a new paragraph when you wish to
introduce a new idea or element into your
letter. In this part stated all the
information like date, venue, dresscode,
etc.

TASK 3

In groups of 5, put the sentences in the envelope into correct category

1. Inviting, accepting or declining

2. Formal or informal