Why are kana called "letters", not "syllables"?

From: 11digitboy@bolt.com
Date: Fri Sep 22 2000 - 22:57:05 EDT


Why, for instance, is HIRAGANA LETTER ME called HIRAGANA
LETTER ME and not HIRAGANA SYLLABLE ME? It might
be explained by how they are used, for instance,
Japanese palindromes, I hear, work kana by kana.

--
Robert Lozyniak
Accusplit pedometer manufactures can go suck eggs
My page: http://walk.to/11
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