What is the author's style in The Subtle Knife by Philip Pullman?

The novel is very readable, with contemporary language. Lyra has a few verbal ticks (she throws in the word "yeah" on occasion and says "en't" for "it isn't"), but both Will and Lyra speak in a familiar way. Ruta Skadi, the queen of the Latvian witches, has an elevated and excited way of speaking, while the people of the tribe with whom Stanislaus Grumman is staying use simpler words. The writer makes it clear that both Scoresby and the tribesmen have to try several languages until they find a way to communicate with one another. Scoresby is himself a man who uses plain language to say exactly what he means, as does his daemon Hester.