The N-word at the time of Huck Finn

[ronbutters at AOL.COM]

Where? I am not surprised that I have never read Twain on this topic, not being a Twain scholar, and it would be helpful to read the actual quote.
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From: Baker, John
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Subject: Re: [ADS-L] The N-word at the time of Huck Finn
Sent: Mar 12, 2009 3:09 PM

        I seem to recall a later writing by Twain, in which he explained
that he used the term "nigger," though he knew it would offend the
sensibilities of some, because a boy like Huck would have used it and,
indeed, would have known no other.   The implication is that we should
understand the term to be offensive, but we should not understand the
uses by Huck and other children to have any offensive intent.


John Baker

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The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org