A study comparing the dialects of Ozark and Appalachian English addresses a possible relationship between the two dialects. The study compares selected structures in the two dialects in order to (1) examine similarities and differences, (2) investigate the behavior of a range of ages (10-70+) to determine patterns of change, (3) examine preservation patterns in each in light of increasing pressure to conform to mainstream norms, and (4) compare the two with other non-mainstream varieties as described in the literature. The data consist of tape-recorded speech samples from residents of the two areas. The report begins with an introductory chapter, a chapter on the historical and social context of the two settings, and a chapter on variation and language change. Subsequent chapters examine specific structures, including aspects of the auxiliary, personal datives, a-prefixing, patterns of irregular verb usage, and subject-verb concord. A concluding chapter and a list of references are also included. Appendixes include a list of the subjects in the analytic sample, interview excerpts, and a feature inventory for Appalachian and Ozark English. (MSE)