Words change over time: remain up to date and aware of “current” usage.

My vocabulary is largely based on living with my mother and grandmother. I know some words I use may sound a bit old. For example, I say “Tokkuri*” for high neck shirts 👚. I say “Mizuya” or “Shokkidana” for cupboards. (Now many Japanese people call these items in English reading: “Hainekku (high neck),” “Kappuboudo (cupboard)”).
(*Tokkuri refers to Japanese ceramic sake bottles that have a narrow neck of jug and we used to call high neck shirts the same as its neck looks similar.)

Yesterday my mother told me what she experienced at an electronics store the other day.
Mom: “Excuse me, where can I find ‘Denkimatto (electronic carpet)’?”
Staff: “What is ‘Denkimatto’?”
Mom: “Hmm, something we lay under a carpet”
Staff: “Alright, you mean ‘Hotto Kaapetto (hot carpet)’!”
Mom: “Yeah, that’s it (so, now people call it a hot carpet, I see)”

And you, Denkimatto!?

It shocked me a little but it was also funny.
According to her, the staff member looked as old as me. There are possibly more words altering or that have just altered among people around my age.

I, as a linguist, always try remaining up to date and aware of new words but this conversation reminds me our everyday language shifts over time. 📚