On a bus... hmm, I see, so that means it's on a... What!? In a car!? Why English Speakers!
As the title suggests, there is a troublesome language where the preposition changes depending on what you are riding when using the expression "to ride/get on something." Yes, it is English.
The common explanation for the distinction is that you use 'on' for public transportation (trains, buses, etc.) and 'in' for private cars, but when this is taught, most students open their mouths in a daze and look blank. They go completely blank, as if to say they are over capacity and need to go on a journey.
I understand exactly what is going on in their hearts and minds. In other words, it is "Why English Speakers!?(in the style of Atsugiri Jason)."
Whether it's a car, a bus, a boat, a bicycle, or a horse... it's still riding, isn't it! Yes, they look at me with eyes full of reproach 😥
Now, let's take a closer look!
1. Why distinguish between them?
First, to avoid accelerating their dislike of English, it is important to "understand." If you learn it reluctantly, it won't stick. You have to accept it with an open mind, thinking, "Well, I guess I have no choice, okay, okay, that's how it is." That is the secret to getting along with the tricky beast that is English.
So, why is it... Why is there a distinction...?
It's simple. It's because that is the English language.
Just think about it... English and Japanese are completely different languages. It is perfectly normal for other languages to place importance on things that you don't even think about in Japanese. In other words, unless you understand the English way of thinking, you won't be willing to accept the distinction between prepositions, and the students' retort of "WHY ENGLISH SPEAKERS!?" is a perfectly valid complaint.
2. Enter the cognitive hero, Cognitive Linguistics!
Now, here comes the long-awaited (?) Cognitive Linguistics. First, regarding the situation of "riding something," the focus differs between Japanese and English.
English: Focuses on the "shape (or space)" of the vehicle.
Japanese: Focuses on "human movement" in relation to the vehicle.
In the case of Japanese,
"Ride (noru)" + particle "ni" → move by riding on XX
is the main focus of the expression. As long as you can express that you are moving (riding) and the medium using "ni," that is fine. The shape of the medium doesn't matter. This happens precisely because Japanese verbalizes "riding" from the perspective of someone who is actually riding in a car and moving (you can't objectively see the shape while you are riding, can you).
3. English classification
However, English, which excels at objective viewpoints, strictly classifies the "objects" you ride.
For example, a car is a "small box." When you get into a car, you crouch down and feel like you are "fitting right inside" the box. This image of entering a box overlaps with the core image of "in." In other words, if you perceive the shape of the medium as a box, the preposition "in" feels right. And regardless of the car, private cars are easy to match with that "small box" image... therefore, it is explained that private cars are used with "in."
On the other hand, a bus is a "moving floor." Since people are riding on a "wide floor (stage)" rather than in a box, the core image of "on" feels more appropriate than the image of "in," in that your feet are in contact with the stage. This is sometimes explained as, "If you can walk, if you can walk inside, it's on."
It is thought that this sense (whether or not you perceive it as a box / whether or not you can walk inside it) is involved in the distinction of how prepositions are used.
* The image of 'on' is more about 'being in contact' rather than 'on top' (roughly speaking, 'in' means 'inside').
Teacher🧑: "How is it? It makes sense when you think of it this way, right?"
Student👧: "Yes! I understand now!"
Teacher🧑: "Then, let's start the process of memorizing it right away."
Student👧: "Teacher!"
Teacher🧑: "Hmm?"
Student👧: "What is the difference between 'on' and 'in'?"
Teacher🧑: "............"
