No they have the dialog checks for the NPCs (afaik, Lydia is a Nord and I have yet to see anyone besides a Dunmer say N'wah) but the OP is saying it makes him feel weird having his sworn companion always yelling how her race is superior to everyone else's when he is standing right there.
I think we're talking about different things. You're discussing the NPC as a roleplayed character, and I agree: that's certainly in the mix. But one would expect a character accompanying you to be aware that the party leader isn't of the same race, and adjust at least a bit accordingly, which simply doesn't happen in gamesas titles. It explains, for example, why a Skyrim lord who asks you to do him a favor will give you a piece of huge armor in reward when you're a mage dressed in robes, carrying a staff, or why the Companions will respond to you as though you were a warrior when you're not.
