Communication and Conflict: Interpersonal Metaphor in the Movie Carnage

Abstract

Interpersonal metaphor, as one constituent of grammatical metaphor in systemic-functional grammar, is mainly represented by metaphor of mood and metaphor of modality. The language of the movie Carnage is abound with interpersonal metaphors in diverse context of “communication” and “conflict” respectively. By summarizing the application of two types of interpersonal metaphor in specific contexts of “communication” and “conflict”, interlocutors’ purposes of using interpersonal metaphor in communicating with others and the communicative effects they intend to achieve can be analyzed to further reveal the functions of interpersonal metaphor and contribute to people’s better understanding of the art of language.