Recorded sound certainly accounts for currency in part today. Laws categorizes his divisions according to subject . Less conventional language as the event is clearer in detail. Memory loss and negative tropism of transmission has not effected loss of parts of text that need to be substituted by conventional language. Some formulaic language has been maintained, however, as these ballads pattern themselves after their older Child ballad cousins.
Native ballads state the story explicitly with detail and the outcome is almost always consistent.
There is frequently a stated moral at the end. Commercial in intent sometimes, often commissioned to capitalize on a recent event. As with the Child ballads, the south has maintained the strongest tradition. Most are less than 100 years old. They tend to be maintained more regionally than nationally as they celebrate specific regional events rather than timeless stories of national and even international interest.