Glenda - I suggest you start a new thread specifically aimed at your question. The people who might know what you want to find may not read an old thread, but a new one might attract their attention. Try to word the title of the thread to include a clue to your agenda.
Your question probably needs to be defined in a more clear fashion. Put a framework on your problem. Where are you based, and from what perspective are you looking at the oral history.
The Appachian mountains were populated by immigrants from many countries and backgrounds. Some were from English, Scottish or Irish backgrounds, others from other European countries, for instance Germany. Obviously each culture brought its own music and song. If people originating from one region were miners by trade, emigrated as a group, settled together in one location, and started to do the same job in their new land, they would also bring with them the local culture from their origins, so it would not surprise me to find their old patterns of speech echoed in their trade.
On the other hand, if people emigrated as individuals, settled in random locations and took to new trades, I wouldn't expect any great degree of carry-over from their homelands.
Good luck with your project.
Quack!
Geoff the Duck.