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The whole point of that workaround is that I'm making it obviously computer-lingo

Thanks for the clarification. My point was that a workaround in English may not be a workaround in every other language in the world.

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This is the interesting question isn't it? Do other languages not have similar 'neutral' formulations? How far could such a ploy be generalised?

For the most part, it would work in essentially ANY language. The "noun, colon, number" notation completely sidesteps the issue of grammar by dumping the verb, which is usually the instigator of the worst problems (Russian, I am looking at you!). For example, the easy way out in Russian is simply "каталоги: 5", which is the nice and easy plural "directories", free from abusive endings imposed by accusative case verbs.

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