1. Human Language vs Animal System of Communication

1.6. Displacement

      This feature of languages refers to the ability to speak not only about what is happening at the time and place of talking, but also about other situation, future and past (last night, now, next week),  real or unreal things and locations (mythical creatures such as angels, fairies, heaven, hell, superman).

      As far as we know, the majority of animals cannot do that, they lack this property and their communicative system is designed exclusively for this moment, here and now. For example, if a dog barks right now, it wants to convey a message about to you which related to last immediate situation but not related to last night or tomorrow. However, bees communication system seems to have some version of displacement to direct other bees to a food source (see page 12).This might mean that the bees' communication system also possesses this feature, although in some limited fashion. Also, animals cannot create fiction.