The pronunciation has an effect, though perhaps not the one she meant. His memory for his father's accent isn't so exact that he connects the two in any concrete sense, but the auditory association is enough to make him tense, just slightly.

"I know the term." ...Which comes out a little snappier than he meant, ahem. "–I had never put a face to the tale, however. It's a pleasure." That much sounds sincere, if a bit– awkward. His manners are a little rusty, okay.