You corrected this sentence:

Don't talk about me as ancient: Don't talk about me as if I'm ancient.

Can you explain me the difference between "ancient" and "old"?
Ancient, I believe, is no longer used or does it have a negative connotation?
If you want to express this:
Don't describe me (don't refer to me) as ancient (If you don't want your students to use this adjective when referring to a person's old age?)
The adjective was used by Daniel Defoe in his Robinson Crusoe.

Thank you

The word "ancient" means REALLY old!

If you use the word to describe someone who is living or something that has occurred or existed fairly recently (in the last half-century or so), it's usually meant in a negative way. For example, sometimes my grandchildren refer to anything that happened in my childhood in the 1940s-50s or my high school and college years as ancient, and they are not being complimentary! The mere thought of spending a childhood with no or very poor TV reception or without computers or without cell phones is unthinkable to them!!

But if you use the word to describe anything out of Greek and Roman or Chinese or any other history or literature or art or architecture, etc., of any culture that is centuries old, the term is not negative. It's simply descriptive! It is a good way to differentiate between Roman culture today and the ancient Roman culture that Caesar and Cicero and their contemporaries lived in.

Sure! I'd be happy to explain the difference between "ancient" and "old."

The word "ancient" typically refers to something or someone that is very old, often from a distant past. It usually carries a sense of timelessness and can be used to describe historical artifacts or civilizations that no longer exist. For example, the ancient Mayan civilization or ancient Egyptian artifacts.

On the other hand, "old" is a more general term that refers to something or someone that has been around for a long time or has reached a certain age. Unlike "ancient," "old" does not necessarily carry the connotation of being from a distant past. For example, you can refer to an old book, an old house, or an old person who has lived for many years.

Regarding your question about whether "ancient" has a negative connotation, it depends on the context. In general, "ancient" does not have a negative connotation when used to describe historical artifacts or civilizations. However, when referring to a person's age, calling them "ancient" might be seen as disrespectful or derogatory. It implies extreme old age and can be considered offensive or ageist.

In the corrected sentence, "Don't talk about me as if I'm ancient," the speaker is advising someone not to describe them using the word "ancient" when talking about their age. This implies that they find the term inappropriate or offensive.

Lastly, it's interesting to note that "ancient" was indeed used by Daniel Defoe in his famous novel, Robinson Crusoe. The usage in the novel would have been in the context of referring to things or people from a distant past, such as ancient customs or ancient artifacts.

I hope this helps clarify the difference between "ancient" and "old"! Let me know if you have any more questions.