‘Sana All’: A Critical Discourse Analysis on its Popularity among Filipino Generation Z

The study aimed to explore the meaning and purpose of the phrase Sana all from the perspective of Generation Z. Specifically, it sought to investigate how individuals across three gender identities perceive and use the phrase in everyday communication. Using a qualitative research design and Fairclough’s critical discourse analysis, the study employed purposive sampling to select fifteen participants representing three gender identities, namely women, LGBT, and men, all of whom had knowledge and were users of the phrase. A Priori Code was used to come up with the interview questions, which served as the main instrument of the study. The audio recordings obtained from the interviews were transcribed verbatim and were subjected to cool and warm analyses. A warm analysis was conducted to categorize the key ideas and identify the final themes of the study. The transcription and the translation of the responses were validated by the researcher’s adviser. The findings revealed that for all three groups, the phrase was commonly associated with feelings of benign envy, which also served as a source of motivation. Additionally, Sana all was widely used by the Filipino Gen Zs, regardless of their gender orientation, as it has multiple roles in communication: it conveys concise information, it is easily understood, it minimizes the offensiveness of words, it promotes inclusivity by aligning with the current trends, it can conceal true feelings and intentions, and it acts as a barrier against negative connotations. As a linguistic tool, Sana all creates a sense of belongingness and effective communication among individuals of all gender orientations. The frequent use of the phrase reflects the ever-changing nature of language.