Abstract
To understand the utterance and structure of kan'yu (invitation) in relation to specific circumstances or situations, this paper suggests that kan'yu be analyzed on three different levels: utterance, discourse and verbal behavior. Kan'yu are executed with the aim of doing something with the addressee, and commonly have a basic discourse structure consisting of three parts: 1) offering and accepting or declining the invitation, 2) deciding the contents of kan'yu and 3) deciding the course of action. Discourse patterns of kan'yu differ depending on how much information is shared between the speaker and the addressee, whether the plan is detailed beforehand, or if the details are negotiable. Knowledge of discourse structures in addition to functions and strategies is essential for spoken language teaching. Classroom activities and instruction materials may be better organized if the situational differences of discourse patterns of kan'yu are taken into account.
