In English, French and German 1-2-3-4 can be counted with words of 1 syllable.

does anyone know what Italians do ? do they say their full words (thus subdividing 1 2 and 4 into 2 equal or non-equal parts) or do they abbreviate somehow ? No jokes that they don't count, please.
U-no
Du-e
Tre
Quatt-ro

The question has no practical application for me, I'm just curious

I don't know about Italian, but in Hungarian they abbreviate
(spelt phonetically)
1 - eydge
2 - kettuh becomes Ket or keyt
3 - harrom becomes harr
4 - neydge

(I think)

[quote][quote name='jch48' date='May 18 2009, 09:42 AM' post='827455']
In English, French and German 1-2-3-4 can be counted with words of 1 syllable.

does anyone know what Italians do ? do they say their full words (thus subdividing 1 2 and 4 into 2 equal or non-equal parts) or do they abbreviate somehow ? No jokes that they don't count, please.
U-no
Du-e
Tre
Quatt-ro

The question has no practical application for me, I'm just curious
[/quote[/quote]]

You aren't quite right about that as the French for four is "quatre" - pronounced as two syllables. In practice it can be shortened to "quat'" but this can be difficult with young children.

The question does actually have practical implications for me as I spend a lot of time struggling with the fact that French is not a "stressed-time" language and it is very difficult to use words to illustrate ryhthmic patterns. It can be done but it usually it deforms the natural flow of the French.

PS Sorry about the quotes not being in blue but since the advent of the new forums my quote button doesn't always work.