Being a Rifter, Kirk couldn't even discern the different accents between the two and was only beginning to start to recognize them on a map. So he had no hope in picking out the sword style.

Kirk's mouth twitches into a smile and he lets out a short huff of laughter, recognizing smartass when he heard it. He used it so often himself that it was an accent he could pick up anywhere. "Yeah, I picked up that part of it. Amazing that swords look just like that where I'm from too."

See? He speaks fluent smartass.