The use of heavily affected Southern dialect reinforces the difference between Anglo American and African American characters in the story. Historically, this literary device was used to illustrate the illiterate and unteachable nature of African Americans. Chesnutt employs the dialect to show that the use of standard English does not always correlate with one’s level of knowledge or intellect.

The dialect illustrates that although Julius has no formal education, he knows how to tell a story. He presents a hero, a plot that causes Sandy to encounter a conflict, a setting that allows the audience of John and Annie to learn more about their own history (as landowners), tragedy, and denouement that brings the story to a clear ending that allows the audience to experience catharsis and a new or deeper understanding of themselves. John uses big words in perfectly constructed English sentences, but Julius tells the story that touches Annie’s heart.

A colloquialism is an informal use of language that is specific to a time, place, or group of people.