The expression "en lo que llega", which I can't find in any dictionary or grammar book, is frequently used in the Canary Islands. Could you explain its scope of use?
The preposition "en", as defined by the Dictionary of the Royal Spanish Academy, "Denotes the place, time, or manner in which what is expressed by the verb to which it refers takes place." In phrases such as "En lo que llega la gente, vamos colocando las sillas" (While people arrive, let's set up the chairs), both sentences are interpreted as coinciding in the present time, so "en lo que" can be replaced by the conjunction "mientras" (while). It can also refer to the past ("En lo que hicimos los bocadillos, fueron a comprar la bebida" - While we made the sandwiches, they went to buy the drinks), or to the future ("En lo que el niño está durmiendo, prepararé el almuerzo" - While the child is sleeping, I will prepare lunch). This form of expressing simultaneity, common in the Canary Islands and in Hispanic America (especially in Mexico or Venezuela, for example), is not, although there is evidence of its use in the 16th and 17th centuries, common in Peninsular Spanish.
Our words
amañar (to persuade)
1. v. Or. To persuade someone to perform a certain action. The only one who persuades him to take a stroll around is his brother.
2. v. Hi. To put the harnesses on the animals. We harnessed the mules, and at five in the morning we were already on our way.
3. prnl. To adapt or acclimatize to an unusual place or situation. The poor woman can't get used to being alone.
amaño (harness)
1.m. Hi. Harness for animals. Mostly used in plural.
Information on the location of voices and meanings
Fv: Fuerteventura
GC: Gran Canaria
Go: La Gomera
Hi: El Hierro
LP: La Palma
Lz: Lanzarote
Occ: Western Islands (Tenerife, La Gomera, La Palma and El Hierro)
Or: Eastern Islands (Lanzarote, Fuerteventura and Gran Canaria)
Tf: Tenerife
