Final answer:
True language is distinguished from animal communication systems by generativity, displacement, and arbitrariness, but not by prevarication.
Step-by-step explanation:
True language is distinguished from the communication systems of lower animals by all of the following except:
- Generativity
- Displacement
- Arbitrariness
- Prevarication
Generativity, displacement, and arbitrariness are all characteristics that differentiate true language from animal communication systems. Generativity refers to the ability to create and understand an infinite number of sentences using a finite set of words and grammar rules. Displacement allows humans to talk about past, present, and future events, as well as abstract concepts, unlike animals who are limited to immediate, concrete situations. Arbitrariness means that the relationship between a word and its meaning is arbitrary, whereas in animal communication, there is often a direct connection between a signal and its meaning. Prevarication, however, is not a distinguishing characteristic of language. Prevarication refers to the ability to lie or deceive through language, which is not exclusive to humans and can also be observed in some animal species.