Re: Optimum number of symbols

 >
 > [n] *is* the only syllabic consonant in Japanese, but non-syllabic [n]
 > exists as well.  The syllabic [n] is used in words like Nihon (Japan),
 > Kon'ya (today), etc.  {n'} is the usual romanization in cases where it
 > could be ambiguous, as {konya} could theoretically exist.  There are
 > minimal pairs, but I can't think of any examples (ah, I just noticed
 > that Philip Newton gave the example of kanen vs. kan'en).  In the word
 > _katakana_, syllabic _n_ isn't used (it is in _kanji_, tho - that would
 > be written ka-n-ji in hiragana)
 >
 > For some reason, I often see romanizations like _on'na_, even tho
 > there's no need for the apostrophe there - syllabic _n_ is the only
 > thing that the first _n_ could be.
 >
Is this true?  Couldn't it be a doubled n, with a little tsu?  Or does
that not occur for some reason?
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