# 
# Example code, not tested at all!
#

my %phrases = (
 "phrase 1"=>{
   qty=1,
   qtySum=5,
   qtyCont=8,
   qtyTotal=\&qtyTotal
 },
 # ...
);

sub qtyTotal{
 my $qty = 0;
 my $phrase = shift;

 foreach my $qType ('qty', 'qtySum', 'qtyCont'){
  $qty += $phrases{$qType} if exists $phrases{$qType};
 }
 return $qty;
}

# and call like this: 

my $total = qtyTotal($phrases{'phrase 1'});

##</code><code>##

# incomplete example, not tested

sub total {
    my $self = shift;

    my $total = 0;

    foreach my $key (qw{blah blah blah}) {
        $total += $self->{$key}
    }

    return $total;
}

print $phrase->total();