Dear [Dr. Rodger]:
[The English Department of Nankai University] would like to extend to you an i
nvitation to be our guest speaker at the [annual conference] to be held at the
[meeting room] at [eight] o’clock, [Saturday morning, December the thirtieth
, 1993].
As you know, the department is interested in [the 20th century English literat
ure] Since you are familiar with the field, we know your views will be extreme
ly interesting to us.
You will receive further details later, but we would appreciate having your ac
ceptance soon so we may complete our agenda.
Cordially,

亲爱的[罗杰博士]：
[南开大学外文系]特邀请您出席[1993年12月30日（星期六）早八点在（系会议室）]召开
的[学术年会]并作演讲。
正如您所了解的，[南大外文系]对[20世纪的英国文学颇感兴趣]。您对此领域很熟悉，您
的见解定会给我们带来很大的兴趣。
我们将随后把有关细节通知您，但恳请您尽快予以答复，以便作出安排。

Unit 2 邀请信的回复

邀请信的复信要求简明扼要，在书写时应注意以下几点：
1. 接受邀请的复信中应重复写上邀请信中的某些内容，如邀请年、月、日，星期几、几点
钟等，如 “I’ll be delighted to attend your luncheon next Friday, May the fif
th, at twelve o’clock”。
2. 邀请信的复信中应明确表明接受邀请还是不接受邀请，不能含乎其词，如不能写 “I’
ll come if I’m in town”。这类的话，以使得对方无法作出安排。在接受邀请的复信中
，应对受到邀请表示高兴。谢却的复信中应阐明不能应邀的原由。

1. 接受与不相识的人共进午餐　Accepting an invitation to luncheon with stranger
s

Dear [Wang Hua]:
I’ll be delighted to come to your luncheon on [Tuesday, April the sixth], at
[on] o’clock.
[Bob] has often spoken me of [Wang Hui], and has told me how very much he enjo
ys having him for a [roommate /teammate]. Although I have never met [Wang Hui]
, I know him from hearing so much about him.
I assure you it will be a very great pleasure indeed to meet [Wang Hui’s moth
er]! Thank you so much for asking me.
Truly Yours

亲爱的[王华]：
我将愉快地参加您于[4月6日（星期二）下午1时]举行的午宴。
[鲍勃]经常向我提起[王晖]，并经常谈到与他[同住一室/为队友]是多么愉快。虽然我还没
有见过他，但因为听到有关他的事情多，好像已经认识他了。
我相信，同[王晖的妈妈]相会一定会使人非常愉快，非常感谢您的邀请。

2. 谢绝不相识的人的邀请　Apologizing for being unable to accept an invitation

Dear [Mrs. Brown]:
　　I have heard so much about [Lambert] from [Jane] that I almost feel as tho
ugh I knew him. I would certainly enjoy meeting his mother!
　　But unfortunately I expect guests myself on [Friday, the seventh of May];
and therefore cannot accept your invitation for luncheon on that day.
　 It was thoughtful of you to invite me, and I am extremely sorry I cannot ac
cept, I do hope you will ask me again some time!
Sincerely yours,

亲爱的[布朗]：
  我已经从[简]那里知道了许多关于[兰伯特]的事，我好像已经认识他似的，能够去见他
母亲我当然觉得十分荣幸！
　但是很不凑巧：在[5月7日（星期五）]我自己要招待客人，因此就不能接受您在那天的
午宴邀请了。
  承您如此热情地相约，恰巧因事不能前往，深表歉意，但愿以后能再次荣获您的邀请。

3. 对迟复邀请表示歉意 　Apologizing for being unable to give an early reply