The terms chief guest and guest of honour both refer to significant guests at events, festivities, or ceremonies. A chief guest is the most important guest at a function, while a guest of honour is the person in whose honor a festivity or ceremony is held.
Key Takeaways
- Chief Guest refers to the most important guest at a function.
- Guest of Honour refers to the person in whose honour a festivity or ceremony is held.
- The term Chief Guest is mostly used in Asian English, while Guest of Honour is more commonly used in Standard English.
Understanding the Chief Guest
A chief guest is the most important guest at an event and typically has a high status in society. They are invited to attend a festivity or ceremony by special invitation, and are often required to give a speech to the audience or other guests at the gathering. The term “chief guest” is not very common and is almost exclusively used in Asian English, such as Indian and Sri Lankan English.
Recognizing the Guest of Honour
A guest of honour is a person in whose honour a festivity or ceremony is held. For example, if your friends planned a party for you, you would be the guest of honour. The term can also refer to the most important guest at a party, similar to a chief guest. However, the term “guest of honour” is more commonly used in Standard English compared to “chief guest.”
Comparing Chief Guest and Guest of Honour
The main difference between a chief guest and a guest of honour is their definition. A chief guest is the main guest or a guest attending an event by special invitation, while a guest of honour is the person in whose honour a festivity or ceremony is held. Additionally, the term “chief guest” is less common and mostly used in Asian English, while “guest of honour” is more commonly used in Standard English.
