Spanish syntax

[RonButters at AOL.COM]

Interesting. I'm no Spanish expert by any means, but I have always been told
to use "no foncionar" in the sense that some mechanical device is out of
order. The dictionary I checked likewise doesn't seem to sanction the use of
"trabajar" in this sense. Could "(no) esta trabajando" be some kind of Puerto
Rican/Mexican/Central American calque?

Just curious about what varieties of Spanish use "trabajar" in the sense of
'function'.

In a message dated 4/7/08 10:02:03 PM, mcovarru at PURDUE.EDU writes:


> > Bad translation, since "trabajar" doesn't mean "work" in the sense of
> > 'function'.
> >
>
> Sure it does. It's especially common in the progressive '(no) esta
> trabajando'
>
> mhc
>




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