Are my English out of Fashion?

China
July 20, 2009 8:46pm CST
Yesterday i felt really embarrassed. When I chatted some guy from South America, I use the word "Flat" to refer to the place in which he lived in. But he did not understand the word, so I had to write it down, and after a long time fo thinking, he realized and told me the word used 200 ys ago. "Your english is out of fashion!" How amazing I was! I have been studying English for many ys. But What I have matered are out of fashion! It that True? If it is, how can i catch up with the morden english? Thanks a lot!
3 responses
@khayshenz (1384)
• United States
21 Jul 09
Your English is not out of fashion. For sure, languages are liquid and are in constant movement. However, meanings don't change over night, if they ever at all. Maybe you just need to expand your vocabulary. So when you say flat, and people don't understand. You can say synonymous words. Around here, in my side of the US, "flats" typically refer to something of a high-class living. Only rich people live in flats! Normal people live in houses, townhouses, condominiums (condos), apartments, and for the less fortunate - the streets.
• China
8 Aug 09
So informative your comment is. Thanks a lot! Good luck~
@LiAXaZu (183)
• Philippines
21 Jul 09
he should be the one embarrassed because he doesn't know that the word "flat" is still being used by the brit as their word for apartment/a place that they live in. :) i don't think your english is out of fashion. or maybe he just didn't mean it that way. maybe he just means that you're using the wrong term, geographically speaking.
• China
8 Aug 09
Now i c. Many thanks! Good luck!
@fwidman (11514)
• United States
21 Jul 09
I have no doubt that if you were talking to an Englishman, he would understand the word flat right away No, I don't think your English is out of fashion.
1 person likes this
• China
21 Jul 09
The guy is from some country in South America. And I am glad to know you r from USA, one of the native English Speaking Countries. Also happy to know my english is not as old as the people used 200 ys ago!