This sentence contains an example of an aesthetic or stylistic device known as "in media res." This device refers to starting a narrative or scene in the middle of the action or dialogue, without providing any context or explanation. In this case, the sentence begins with the character realizing that Blackwood is speaking in her own tongue, without any prior information about the situation or conversation. This creates a sense of intrigue and encourages the reader to continue reading to uncover the meaning and significance behind the dialogue.
The sentence you provided is an example of an aesthetic or stylistic device called "foreign language insertion." This occurs when a character's dialogue is written in a language other than the language used for most of the narrative. In this case, Blackwood is speaking in her own tongue, which is different from the language used throughout the rest of the text. This device can add depth to a character, create a sense of mystery, or emphasize their uniqueness or unfamiliarity.
