Mari, Meadow
PrintA language of Russian Federation
ISO 639-3
Alternate Names
Cheremis, Eastern Mari, Low Mari, Lugovo Mari, Mari, Mari-Woods
Population
388,000 in Russian Federation (2010 census). Census includes Hill Mari [mrj]. Population total all countries: 397,090. Ethnic population: 604,300.
Location
Mari El Republic, east of the Volga, Bashkir, and Tatar; Udmurtia Republic; Perm District; Kirov Province. Also in Kazakhstan (Eastern Mari).
Language Maps
Language Status
4 (Educational).
Classification
Dialects
Grassland Mari (Meadow Mari, Sernur-Morkin, Volga, Yoshkar-Olin).
Language Use
Many children learn the language but only those in remote rural areas continue to use it actively. In eastern diaspora areas in Bashkortostan practically all children learn the language (2007). Also use Russian [rus].
Language Development
Taught in primary schools. Newspapers. Radio programs. NT: 1986–2007.
Language Resources
Writing
Cyrillic script. Latin script.

In many publications the term, Eastern Mari, is reserved for the diaspora groups outside the Republic. Christian, traditional religion.