中西方文化差异

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

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 gree ts 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 lam

b 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: