Jane, both words, if used in everyday conversation, would sound hyper-formal to my American intuition. It would catch me off guard particularly if a young person said it (I might even interpret it as sarcasm).

John

On Fri, Nov 18, 2011 at 10:46 AM, Jane Saral <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
I have a niece in Germany married (for 15 years or so) to a German.  She tutors children in English and asks the following question:
 
"Do you ever use "needn't or mustn't" when you speak? Maybe it's British because it sure sounds weird to me. Kids have to learn this in 5th grade and to me it seems like unnecessary vocabulary..."
 
Both sound normal to me. But that might be because I lived and taught in England for several years.   
 
Jane Saral
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John

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