On savannas vs In savannas

[Madness1]

It looks like both are in use. What do you think? On or in savannas?

I would say "in savannas" because "in fields", "in mountains", "in forests", "in fields", "in deserts", and so on.
However, there is also "on farms", "on fields", "on oceans", and a couple more, so it stands to reason that "on savannas" should make sense and be idiomatic, right?

 

[jutfrank]

First of all, please get used to giving us complete sentences.

Second, remember that different prepositions have different meanings, and that the meaning comes from the context (typically the sentence in which it appears).

If the sentence shows that you're thinking of savannahs as ecosystems within which things happen, then in is appropriate. But if you're thinking of the savannah as a surface, as you would a grassy plain, then on is appropriate.

Would you like to find a sentence, or make one up yourself, to illustrate this difference?

(Questions like this can be posted to the Ask a Teacher section.)

 

[Madness1]

I am not sure about linking so I will just copy and paste what I have found:

- UK scientists found warmer and wetter weather makes more greenery grow on savannas and tundras
- Shrub and tree cover in savannas rose by 30 per cent during the same period, as rainfall increased.
- More woody plants could alter the unique biodiversity of areas home to diverse species including caribou in the tundra and elephants in the savanna
- Woody cover is increasing in the savanna
- Overall, woody encroachment was positively related to warming in the tundra and increased rainfall in the savanna.
- Due to large amount of grass found in savannas, many types of grazing animals can be found there.
- Herds of grazing animals are commonly seen in the African savanna.
- Many rodents live in savannas.
- Farmers allow their livestock to graze on savannas.
- Some farmers feed their animals in stalls, rather than letting them graze on the savanna.
- Early humans lived on savannas.
- Humans evolved on savannas in Africa.
- Planting trees on savannas and grasslands.
- The olive baboons are largely found on savannas, while some are also found in tropical rainforests and deserts.
- During the rain seasons, the olive baboons pick and gorge on fruit, young leaves, flowers, and fresh grasses in the savanna.

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

As you can see, jutfrank's distinction is generally true. You can also see that there is no strict rule.

 

[jutfrank]

If necessary, I'd be happy to comment further on those examples, but there are way too many! I thought you might post only one or two.

 

[Madness1]

If you have any further comments then please do comment on them. Although I think I do understand the difference better after what you have explained in the post #2, and the fact that these examples pretty much confirm your every word.

Also, it seems to me that there is some leeway in what preposition you are allowed to use, depending on the context, as it might be possible and acceptable to refer to the savanna as an ecosystem as well as a plain surface and it is up to you to decide how you want to look at it.

For instance, in this example: "The olive baboons are largely found on savannas", I think it is acceptable to refer to it as either a plain surface or ecosystem because neither reference is better or worse than the other in this particular example. Therefore "on savannas" is fine, but "in savannas" is fine too and it wouldn't be an error if I chose to say that.

Correct?

 

[jutfrank]

Correct?

Yes, that's exactly right.

 

[Tdol]

Following Jutfrank's distinctions, it would appear that we think of them more as ecosystems.