Задание № 2. Изучить информацию о пригласительных: Business Card History

I. Visiting Cards, 17th century (France)

Visiting cards, the "Visite Biletes", used to be playing card size, just a little smaller than the size of a man's hand. The earliest forms of visiting cards were indeed playing cards. Visitors wrote on the cards their signatures, promissory notes and other messages.

As time went by, these visiting cards further developed into greeting and other cards.

These first visiting cards appeared in France during the reign of Louis XIV - "Le Roi Soleil". They were solemnly introducing their owners in all their glory.

Louis XIV, the King of France, was born in 1638 at St. Germain-en-Laye France. He ruled from 1643 to 1715 (72 years the longest reign in modern European history). He was styled the Grand Monarch, and his brilliant court at Versailles became a model and perhaps also the despair of other, less rich and less powerful princes who nevertheless accepted his theory of absolute monarch.

A great supporter of the arts, Louis patronized the foremost writers and artists of his time, including Moliere, Jean Racine, Jean de La Fontaine, and Charles Le Brun. The architect Jules Mansart supervised the building of the lavish palace of Versailles. Because of the brilliance of his court, Louis was called "Le Roi Soleil" and "Le Grand Monarque."

How to write an invitation letter:

1. The tone of an invitation should be always positive, in anticipation of a pleasurable occasion. Picture your guests smiling when they read your letter of invitation. Clever phrasing, poetry or a themed approach may be appropriate for an informal occasion, but you should express the details clearly.

2. Extend the invitation, naming the event and including the date, time, and place. If the event has a special purpose, such as honoring someone or celebrating an anniversary, state this.

3. Indicate if a gift is not expected if the event is a retirement, an anniversary, or a reception. If a gift is welcome, it is usually best to say nothing, except in the case of bridal or baby showers.

4. Indicate the appropriate dress, if there is any reason for question.

5. Express anticipation.

6. Ask for a response by a specific date.

7. Try to send your invitation letter two weeks or more in advance.

Be sure your invitation letter includes:

• The name of the person sponsoring the event (who is the host/hostess?)

• Exactly who is invited (can someone bring a guest, spouse, child?)

• What type of social event is being held

• The date, address, and time of the event

• Directions or a simple map if the location may be difficult to find

• What type of dress is appropriate or preferred

• The phone number and deadline to reply; precede these facts with “RSVP” (French abbreviation for “please reply”).

If you must decline to accept an offer, invitation, or gift, you should:

• Be gracious, whatever the reason is that you must decline.

• Thank the person for the invitation, offer, gift, suggestion, etc.

• State clearly that you are unable to accept.

• Briefly state the reason that you are unable to accept, if desired.

• In closing, restate your appreciation for the person’s consideration.

Задание № 3. Изучить информацию о том, как писать пригласительные письма. Прочитать и перевести, написать перевод активной лексики после текста.