>I've never understood the Slav's... they are a huge people, but all claim to have different languages etc..
>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Slavic_languages.jpg

The differences between neighboring Slavic languages are sometimes minor (I presume Czech vs Slovakian would be a good example), and then there are pairs with sufficient differences to the point where a translator is a must (p.e. Polish vs any other Slavic language is pretty much like Italian vs Spanish or Portuguese).

While there are many words with common roots, and generally parallel grammar structures, they are pronounced differently, don't even use the same alphabet etc etc. True, if you speak two Slavic languages, you can learn the next one pretty much by yourself, once you get its logic.