plane (n.)

A term used for an autonomous dimension of structural REPRESENTATION in some models of NON-LINEAR PHONOLOGY and MORPHOLOGY. Several derived notions are found in planar phonology. Planar segregation permits units to be on separate planes under specified conditions: for example, CONSONANT and VOWEL features can be located on independent phonological planes (so that the relation of [LABIAL] in a consonant to C-PLACE would define a different plane from that of [labial] in a vowel to V-place). Plane (or planar) conflation combines two planes into a single level of representation. Plane copying transfers information from one plane to another.