why is it that in different languages around the world same words are used when referring to things?

Question

with which they dont have apparent relationship?
for instance, sexual male organ in many languages is referred to as "bird"...why is this possible since there doesnt seem to be a logical relationship between bird and the other (if i say the word yahoo deletes the question, sorry).
It could be explained culturally if it happened just in one language. But how can you explain apparently non logical relationships between words in different cultures?

no, what i mean is how can be possible that two different cultures express an idea in the same way when there is no relationship between the ideas.
How come someone in britain a long time ago thought of the male sexual organ as a bird and in spain someone thought the same thing?

Answer 1

Your example is not that extreme: I can imagine the same basic metaphor behind both expressions. Very similar slang expressions for you know what in Indonesian (Burung ="bird"); Cuckoo bird / Bird-bird / bird / birdie in Singaporean English (direct Singlish translation of the Malay and Chinese dialect slang words for you know what); and so on...

Answer 2

Probably because a flaccid penis looks like a little bird perching on a bush? Unless it gets bigger.... (*Censored*) Another probable reason is external influence. In the Philippines we also refer to the penis as the "bird" but it was an American/Western influence. A British man could have heard that in another country and brought the term with him in England. We would never know the origin. Some people find it cute and amusing calling a guys penis a "bird".... I hope that bird finds a nest soon. ;-)

Answer 3

If I remeber this right, the languages of Europe have two main roots, germanic and latin. The two intermingled for centuries and similar words developed. If you read early english you wouldnt recognize it. Middle english is different as well. Now italian and spanish are similar because they have latin roots. Soon as you get into the arabic and asian languages I get lost but if you look hard you can find similar words. I hope this helps.