Few vs. a few

I notice a difference in connotation in these two expressions.  "A few
people attended the meeting," means simply that there was a small
number in attendance.  "Few people attended the meeting" connotes a
certain disappointment: "There were not as many people in attendance as
we had expected."

How do you handle this in your conlangs, especially if your conlang has
no indefinite article.

Or in any natlang you may know.  I wonder of "Poca gente asistieron en
la reunion" conveys both meanings.

Charlie

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