Mari, Meadow

A language of Russian Federation

Cheremis, Eastern Mari, Low Mari, Lowland Mari, Lugovo Mari, Mari, Mari-Woods, Woods Mari

олык марий‎ (Olyk Marij), олык марий йылме‎ (Olyk Marij jylme)

470,000 in Russian Federation (2012 T. Salminen). Ethnic population: 548,000 (2010 census). Total users in all countries: 482,700.

Location

Bashkortostan republic, Kirov province, Mari El republic, Sverdlovsk province, Perm krai; east of the Volga.

Language Maps

Western Russian Federation

4 (Educational).

Grassland Mari (Meadow Mari, Sernur-Morkin, Volga, Yoshkar-Olin). A member of macrolanguage Mari [chm].

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 (Salminen 2007). Also use Russian [rus]. Used as L2 by Hill Mari [mrj].

Language Development

Taught as subject in primary schools. Newspapers. Radio. Dictionary. Grammar. Texts. NT: 1986–2007.

Language Resources

OLAC resources in and about Mari, Meadow

Writing

Cyrillic script [Cyrl]. Latin script [Latn].

Other Comments

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