What is an example of word choice in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn?

In Mark Twain's The Adventures of Huckleberry
Finn, word choice is especially important in order to convey the realistic
tone of the South. Whereas a writer will make sure to use word choice in an especially
careful way (using action verbs, avoiding slang and cliches), Twain is trying to present
dialogue that sounds realistic.

Example of word choice in
Huck Finn are found throughout the novel. In Chapter Thirty-Four,
"We Cheer Up Jim," the conversation is as follows:

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We stopped talking, and got to thinking. By and
by Tom says:

'Looky her, Huck, what fools we are to not
think of it before! I bet I know where Jim is.'

'No!
Where?'

'In that hut down by the ash-hopper. Why, looky
here. When we was at dinner, didn't you see a...man go in there with some
vittles?'

'Yes.'

'What did you
think the vittles was for?'

'For a
dog.'

'So 'd I. Well, it wasn't for a dog...It shows how a
body can see and don't see at the same
time.'

In the discussion, the
Southern vernacular is necessary in order to provide a sense of the people who are
speaking and the setting of the novel. It is also appropriate when the Duke and Dauphin
try to pass themselves off as royalty. The language Twain employs sets the tone of the
novel by creating more realistic characters.