PHONOLOGICAL FEATURES IN ALEJANDRO ROCES' “WE FILIPINOS ARE MILD DRINKERS”: A STYLISTIC ANALYSIS AND ITS EDUCATIONAL IMPLICATIONS

English Language Teaching

This study addresses the underexplored role of phonological features in Filipino literature, specifically in Alejandro Roces’ We Filipinos Are Mild Drinkers. While phonological devices such as alliteration, assonance, and consonance are integral to narrative style in Western literary traditions, their significance in Filipino texts remains largely overlooked. This research aims to identify and analyze the prominent phonological features in Roces’ work using Leech and Short’s Heuristic Checklist of Linguistic and Stylistic Categories, offering an innovative framework for examining sound in non-Western literary contexts. The study is grounded in an interpretivist epistemological stance underpinned by linguistic poetics and critical discourse analysis (CDA). This theoretical triangulation enables a multidimensional exploration of how phonology influences the narrative's thematic and cultural dimensions while reflecting broader societal power structures. The research employs a qualitative, document-based approach, using close reading and thematic analysis to identify key phonological devices within the text. The study finds that sound patterns are not merely ornamental but function as critical narrative tools that reflect Filipino cultural identity and oral traditions while also challenging hegemonic linguistic norms. These findings underscore the relevance of phonological analysis in literary studies and its implications for decolonizing literary criticism. Theoretical and practical contributions of this research include advancing the application of Western linguistic frameworks to Filipino texts and offering new insights into the intersections of language, power, and identity. The study encourages a more inclusive approach to literary education and critical discourse, particularly in the context of decolonization and postcolonial theory.

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