ABSTRACT
The Mari (older name: Cheremis) language is spoken in Central Russia around the middle stretch of the Volga and in scattered areas in the east towards the Urals. There exists a Mari Autonomous (Soviet) Republic (now, Republic of Mari EI) extending to both sides of the river. The Volga is also a dialect boundary: the Mari on the western, hilly side speak kurfJk mari or Hill Mari those on the low eastern shore speak olfJk mari or Meadow Mari.
