《貓鼠游戲》中語(yǔ)氣隱喻的分析

ChapterOneIntroductionAccordingtocognitivelinguistics,metaphorisactuallyawayofthinking,andallmetaphorscanbebrokendownintoseveralbasicmetaphors,whicharederivedfromhumanexperienceoftheworld.Forexample,theunderstandingofmoralityincludessuchmetaphorsas"moralaccumulationislikesavingmoney","moralityishealthy"and"moralityisthenatureofhumannature".However,HallidayMathiessenbelievesthatalthoughLakoffandJohnson'stheoryelevatedmetaphorasabasicprincipleofhumancognitionoftheworldandalsomentionedtheroleofgrammaticalcategoryintheprocessofmetaphorgeneration,suchcognitivemetaphortheoryonlydiscussedthemetaphorizationprocessonthesemanticlevel.Therearecertainlimitations.Hallidayproposedtheconceptofgrammaticalmetaphorintheframeworkoffunctionalgrammar,whichistodiscussmetaphorissuesfromtheperspectiveoflexicalgrammar."Ontheonehand,itcanbefoundthatsemanticfeaturesofdifferentcategoriescontainedinmetaphorareconnected,namelytheintegrationofsemanticfeaturesbetweendifferentcognitivedomainsasmentionedincognitivemetaphortheory.Ontheotherhand,itcanconnectindividualmetaphoricalphenomenawiththemeaningpotentialofthewholelanguage,analyzethelexicalgrammarsystemoflanguage,interprethumanexperienceandconstructsomeabstractideasorideologiesinsocialreality.Modalmetaphortheoryisanimportantpartofsystemic-functionalgrammar.Inthispaper,itwillcombinetheconceptoftonemetaphorinthemovieCatchMeIfYouCan,discussitscommunicativefunctionandjudgmentmode,andanalyzeitsroleinspeechacts.Thefilmisusedasanexampletoexploretheroleoftonemetaphorininterpersonalcommunication."CatchMeIfYouCan"tellsthestoryofgeniusyoungfrank(LeonardoDicaprio)thesuperiorintelligence,afterdomesticmisfortune,bypretendingtobeapilotmanufacturefakechecks,cheatalotofmoney.Hethenwentfreeposingasadoctorandalawyer.ButhewasfinallycaughtbyAgentCarl.Thefilmwonthe75thAcademyAwards,the60thGoldenGlobeAwards,andthe56thTheBritishAcademyFilmAwards.Therefore,itisveryrepresentativetotakethisfilmasthecorpusoftonemetaphoranalysis.

ChapterTwoAnIntroductiontoModalMetaphorsTonemetaphoroccurswhenacertainlanguagefunctioncanbereflectedbydifferentmoods,orwhenacertainmoodcanreflectdifferentfunctions.2.1TheConceptofModalMetaphorIngrammaticalmetaphor,moodmetaphorbelongstointerpersonalmetaphor.AccordingtoLmeke,"Toneisthesystembywhichgoodsareexchangedbetweenthespeakerandthelistener."Usingdifferentmoodsproducesdifferentfunctions.Butinpractice,afunctioncanbeperformedbymultiplemoods,andthesamemoodcanperformmultiplefunctions.Whatmodalmetaphorembodiesisthevariationoflanguagefunction.Inshort,thephenomenonofshiftingfromonemooddomaintoanotheriscalledmodalmetaphor.2.2TheDualSemanticCharacteristicsofModalMetaphorAcompletemetaphorisusuallycomposedofontologyandmetaphor.Similesandmetaphorshaveonemoresimile,andsometimesthesimilaritythatservesasthebasisforthemetaphoralsoappearsinthemetaphoricaldiscourse.Thisbasisforformingametaphoriscalledametaphorbase.ThecommonEnglish"as...Intheconstructionof"as",whatfollowsthefirst"as"isusuallythebaseofthesimile.Therearemorethantenkindsofsemanticfeaturesbetweentheontologyandthemetaphor.Herewediscusssomemainfeaturesofmetaphor.（i）ContradictionThecontradictionofmetaphoricalsemanticsreferstothecontradictionbetweentheliteralmeaningofsentencesinlogicandcontext.Metaphoricalmeaningistheresultoftheactionofbasicsemanticsandcontext.Ifwedefinemetaphorastalkingaboutsomethingthroughsomething,theneverymetaphorinvolvesatleasttwothings.Inotherwords,thereshouldbetwodifferentconceptsineverymetaphor.Thejuxtapositionorequivalenceofthesetwoconcepts,whichoriginallybelongtodifferentgenera,bysomesyntacticmeansoftenconstitutesaconflictwiththeabove,orcategorymismatch.（ii）AmbiguityThefuzzinessofmetaphoricalmeaningmainlyreferstothedependenceofmetaphoricalmeaningoncontext.Theprocessofunderstandingmetaphoricalmeaningisactuallytotransferthesignificantsemanticfeaturesofmetaphortoontology.Butthemetaphoritselfhasavarietyofmeaningfeatures.Theconfirmationofthetruemeaningofthemetaphordependsnotonlyonthespeaker'sintention,butalsoonhowthelistenerchoosestomapthefeaturesofthemetaphorontotheontology.（iii）DegreeTherearedegreesofmetaphor.Metaphoricalisacontinuum,oneendisthefreshmetaphorwithhighmetaphoricalvalue,theotherendisthedeadmetaphorthathaslostitsmetaphoricalvalue.Butthejudgmentofmetaphoricaldegreeissubjective,andthereisnocompletely"dead"metaphor,evendeadmetaphor,undertheappropriatecontextmayberevived.Somepeopledon'tthinkofadeadsimileasametaphor,butasa"cliché"or"polysemouswords."Becausetheyhaveacquiredasenseofrecognition.Adeadmetaphorisametaphorthathasbecomepartofthebasicmeaningofaword,orisLexicalized,Undernormalcircumstances,themetaphoricalmeaningisnolongervisible,sodictionariesoftenaddthelabelof"deadmetaphor"attheendoftheentryorindicatethatoncethefreshmetaphorisacceptedandspread,itsmetaphoricalvaluebeginstoweaken.Withtheincreaseofthefrequencyofmetaphoruse,themetaphorbecomesapartofthemeaning,butstillmaintainsthecharacteristicsofmetaphor.Evenadeadmetaphorisakindof"extinctvolcano"thatcanbe"resurrected"atanytime.Freshmetaphorisapragmaticphenomenon,whilelexicalizedandnormativemetaphorsbelongtothescopeofsemantics.（vi）LocalityMetaphoricalmeaningistheresultoftheinteractionbetweenmetaphorandontology.Thefeaturesofthemetaphoraretransferredtotheontologybymapping,butthecharacteristicsoftheontologydeterminewhichfeaturesofthemetaphorcanbetransferred.Itactsasa"filter,"inBlack'swords,emphasizingcertainfeaturesandsuppressingothers.Intheprocessofmetaphorunderstanding,onlypartofthefeaturesofthemetaphorareactuallytransferred.Whendiscussingthisfeatureofmetaphor,Mr.QianZhongshupointedoutthatthetwopartsaresimilar,butnotthewhole.2.3TheJudgementofModalMetaphorThemetaphoricalencodingofspeechfunctionbymoodshowsthatthereisnotacompleteone-to-onecorrespondencebetweenthecategoriesofspeechfunctionandmood.Forexample,thesameinterrogativemoodcanembodyquestions,statements,imperatives,etc.Thisraisesthequestionofspeechfunction:Howdowedetermine"Whenwillyoueverlearn?Isitaquestionorastatement?Ifitisaquestion,itimpliesthattheinterrogativemoodisconsistentwiththefunctionofspeechthatexpressesdoubt.Ifitisastatement,itmeansthattheinterrogativemoodisametaphoricalrepresentationoftheverbalfunctionofthestatement.thejudgmentofmodalmetaphorisdiscussedfromthreeaspects:Idealizedresponsetospeechfunctions,evidencefromthecontextandcontext.（i）AnidealizedresponsetospeechfunctionHaliday(1985)dividesspeechfunctionsintooffering,commanding,stating,andquestioning,andthesefourspeechfunctionscorrespondtoanidealizedsetofresponses:acceptingoffers,performingcommands,confirmingstatements,andansweringquestions.AsshowninchartFigure2-1:speechfunctionanditsidealresponseStartIdealizedresponseFreechoiceGivegoods/servicesSeekGiveinformationSeekprovideCommandStatementQuestionAcceptExecuteConfirmAnswerRejectRefuseRefuteDenyFromthissetofidealizedresponsestocorrespondingspeechfunctions,wecanroughlydeterminethespeechfunctionofaninitialclause.（ii）IndicativemarkersinadjacentcommunicativebehaviorHalliday(1985)dividedthefourspeechfunctionsofstatement,question,offeringandcommandintotwogroups:statementandquestionaspropositions.ThereareindicativemarkersinEnglishthatdistinguishpropositionsfromproposals.Theyinclude:please,kindly,allright,okayandthankyou.Inmanycases,thesemarkerscanbeusedtotestwhetherasentenceisapropositionoraproposal.Pleaseandkindlyusuallyappearincommands;allrightandokayappearintheresponseprovidedtothecommand;'thankyou'isusedinresponsetoproviding,etc.（iii）ModallevelHalliday(1985)alsodividedmodalityintotwogroups:modalityandintension,andconnectedthemwithspeechfunction.Modality(probabilityandfrequency)isexpressedbythedeclarativeandinterrogativemood,andtherefore,itisassociatedwiththeproposition,exchanginginformation.Intentionality(obligationandwill)isembodiedbytheimperativemood,soitisassociatedwithanofferinexchangeforgoods/services.Martinprovidesthelevelofmodalityinthecontextofadjacentpairs.Theabovethreemethodsaredeterminedasevidencefromthecontext.（vi）DecisionbycontextIndifferentcontexts,thesameclausemayexpressdifferentspeechfunctions.Field,mode,tenor,styleandculturemayallberelevantfactors.ChapterThreeAnalysisofModalMetaphorinLinesModalmetaphorisoftenseenintheprocessofinterpersonalcommunication,ofcourse,themovieismoreadeptintheuseofmodalmetaphor.IwilltakethemovieCatchMeIfYouCanasanexample.3.1AnalysisofInterrogativeMetaphorInmodalmetaphorphenomenon,interrogativemoodisoftenusedtoreflectthefunctionofimperativecommand,whichisusedtoobtainservicesorgoods.3.1.1CommandFunctionEmbodiedbytheQueryToneThemetaphoricalmodechangesfromtheimperativetotheinterrogativemode.Thismetaphoricalmodeweakensthesenseofcommandandthesenseofbeingintheimperativesentence,makesthelistenerretain"face",sothatitiseasiertoresonateandcreateaharmoniousatmosphere.(1)Frankie,youdon'thavetoweartheuniformhere,whydon'tyoutakeoffyourjacket?Inthiscase,Frank'sfamilywentbankrupt,thegovernmentseizedtheirhouse,andFrankwasforcedtotransfertoanotherhighschool,whichwasnotnearlyasgoodashisoldschool.Frankkeptthetraditionofwearingauniformathisoldschoolandseemedoutofstepwiththestudentsthere.Frank'smotherdidn'twanthimtolookoutofplaceinhisnewenvironment,butdirectlyorderinghimtotakeoffhisschooluniformmadehimthinkhewasbeingtoughandunacceptable.SoFrank'smothersentthismessage.Heruseoftonemetaphormakestheinterrogativetonereflectboththequestioningfunctionandthecommandfunction,andalsoreducesthesenseofcommand.Itsconsistentformulais"Takeoffyourjacket!Herethetonemetaphorisusedtoeasethetone,adjustthedialogueatmosphereofbothsides,andexpresstheirowndemands.Whydon'tyou,youknow,driveonovertomom'shouse,pickherup,takealittlejoyride?Inthiscase,FrankishavingdinnerwithhisfatheratafancyrestaurantandaskshimtotakehismotherforarideinhisnewCadillac.Inthepreviousfilm,Frank'sparentsdivorcedbecauseofthefamilypropertychanges,soFrankwantshisfathertotakehisCadillactopickuphismotherforadrive,asanopportunitytoshowhismotherthathisfathercanrecoverandthefamilysituationwillbebetter,soastopromotethereconciliationofhisparents.Theagreementis"youshoulddriveonovertomom'shouse,pickherup,takealittlejoyride."IfFrankusestheagreementdirectlyandspeakstohisfatherinacommandingtone,Itisinevitablethatthefatherwillfeelcoercedanddisrespected,losinghisdignityandhisface.Therefore,Frankusedinterrogativetonetoexpressthecommandfunction.Whileexpressinghisowndemands,interrogativetonealsoenhancedthetoneeffectandimprovedtheinteractionbetweenthetwosides,soastofacilitatethelistenertoconsiderwhetheritispossibletodoso.(3)Doyouunderstandhowdangerousthisis?Doyou?Inthiscase,whenFrankwenttothehospital,thedirectorofthedoctorwasreprimandingthefrontdesknurse.Thedirectoraskedthefrontdesknurseinaninterrogativetonewhethersheknewthedangeroftakingbloodwithoutlabeling.Infact,hetoldthefrontdesknurseonthesidethatitwasdangeroustodosoandconveyedthedoctor'sordertoforbidit.Theconsistent"Thisisverydangerous,youmustnotdoit."Ifthechiefdoctorusestheconsistentstatementtowarnthefrontdesknursethatthisisdangerousandnottodoitagain,thetoneisverybluntandunacceptable,anditisnotconducivetomaintainingtheharmoniousrelationshipbetweencolleagues.Theuseofquestioningtoneleadstoquestions,sothatthefrontdesknursetothink,moreconducivetothefutureattentiontotherecurrenceofsuchthings.3.1.2StatementFunctionEmbodiedbytheQueryToneInthephenomenonofmodalmetaphor,theinterrogativemoodoftentakestheplaceofthedeclarativemoodtoreflectthedeclarativefunction.Theinterrogativetonedoesnotmeanthatthespeakerisaskingforinformationoraskingthelistenerforaccuracy.Onthecontrary,theinterrogativemoodinsteadofthedeclarativemood,sothatthetoneisstronger,moreprominentemphasisonthespeaker'spointofview,sothatthecontentismoreconvincing.(1)Whatareyoudoing?Youwantsomepancakes?Fordinner?Onmyson's16thBirthday?InthisexampleFrankispreparingpancakesforhis16thbirthdaydinner.Frank'sfathersawhimmakingpancakesforhis16thbirthdaydinner,worriedthathissonwouldbewrongedbyfamilyeventsandthoughthenolongercaredabouthim.Here,thefatherusestheinterrogativemoodtoreflecttheoriginalstatementfunction.Theagreementis"wedon'twantsomepancakesfordinneronmyson'sbirthday."Thefatherusestheinterrogativemoodinsteadoftheoriginaldeclarativemood.ToshowFrankthathewouldneverlethimbewronged,evenifthingswentwronginthefamily,andtoshowFrankthathehadtheconfidencetogetbackonhisfeet.Comparedwiththeagreementofthedeclarativemood,theinterrogativemoodisstronger,whichcanbetterindicatethefather'sintentionatthistime.(2)DoYouthinktheFBIaretheonlyonesonthisguy?Imean,comeon,heisdabblingingovernmentcheckshere.CarltracksFrankdownatahotelandtriestoarresthim,butFrankdeceivesCarlbypretendingtobeoneofthegovernmentworkershuntingthefraudster.Inthisexample,Frankusesthetonemetaphor,whoseconsistentformulais"FBIarenottheonlyonesonthisguy."Frankusestheinterrogativetoneinsteadoftheoriginaldeclarativetonetoreflectthedeclarativefunction,andmakeshistonemoreintense,indicatingthatheisnotconsultingCarl'sopinion.It'saboutexpressingyourselfstrongly.Frankusestheinterrogativetonetomakethedegreeofemotionalexpressionmoreintense,sothatCarldoesnotdoubtwhathesays,makinghimselfmorelikelytobebelieved.Frankknewthis,sohemanagedtofoolCarlandgetawaywithitagain.I'msurewecantakecareofthat.WhenpoliceofficerCarlandhiscolleaguesinvestigatemissingpersonsvisitFrank'smother'snewhome,CarlexplainsthesituationtoFrank'smother,andthemotheraskspoliceofficerCarl'ssonFrankhowmuchmoneyheowesbysayingthathecanrepaythedebt,whichfullyshowsamother'sloveforherson.IfIwilltellyouwhereheis,willyoupromisenottotellhismother?Inthisexample,FBIagentCarlgoestoFrank'sfatherandaskshimwhereFrankis.ThefatheranswersinaquestioningtoneandsaysthathisfathercantellCarlwhereFrankis,buthecan'ttellFrank'smother.ThefathernotonlyansweredOfficerCarr'squestionbystatingthetruth,"IknowwhereFrankis,"butalsoaskedOfficerCarrnottotellFrank'smother,becausehedidn'twanthertoworryaboutherson.Whenintrouble,Frank'sfatherfirstthoughtofFrank'smotheranddidnotwanttomakehisex-wifeworry,whichshowedFrank'sfather'sconsiderateloveforhismother.Eventhoughtheyhaddivorced,hisfatherstilllovedhismotherdeeply.3.2AnalysisofDeclarativeMetaphorInagreementmode,thedeclarativemoodisusedtostateinformationandreflectthedeclarativefunction.Inmodalmetaphor,thedeclarativemoodoftenreflectsthefunctionofquestioningandisusedtoobtaininformation.3.2.1QueryFunctionEmbodiedbytheStatementToneThedeclarativemoodismoreclear,conciseandformal.Comparedwiththeinterrogativemood,thedeclarativemoodgreatlyreducesthespaceforbeingrefusedbytheotherpartytoobtaininformation,anditiseasiertoachievethecommunicativepurposeofthespeaker.Now,somebodypleasetellmewhereyouleftoffinyourtextbooks.Inthiscase,Frankhasjustarrivedathisnewschoolandfindsthatlearningisverydisorderlyandthestudentsareplayingaroundwitheachother.SohedecidestopretendtobethenewsubstituteFrenchteacherinordertomanagethestudentsandestablishhisauthority.Frankusesamodalmetaphorhere.Theconsistentformofthissentenceis"whereyouleftoffinyourtextbooks?"Inthepreviousfilm,Frankcametoschoolforthefirsttimeandwasdeliberatelychallengedandexcludedbyaboy,sohedecidedtopretendtobeasubstituteFrenchteachertopunishtheboywhoexcludedhimandestablishhisauthority.Here,Frankusesthedeclarativemoodinsteadoftheinterrogativemoodtoreflecttheoriginalinterrogativefunction.Comparedtotheinterrogativetone,thedeclarativetoneismoreforcefulandconcise,andheredirectlyeliminatesthepossibilitythattheclasswillrefusetoanswerhisquestionaboutprogress.Atthesametime,usingthedeclarativemoodinthissituationismoreformal,moreunassailabletothestudents,andhelpsFrankbetterpretendtobeasubstituteteacher,soastoachievehisgoal.3.2.2CommandFunctionEmbodiedbytheStatementToneBymeansofmodalmetaphor,theimperativetoneistransformedintothedeclarativetone,therequirementsareeuphemisticallyexpressed,thesenseofcommandisweakened,andtheroleof"face"isgiventothelistenerandtheatmosphereiseased.Atthesametime,thedeclarativemoodwillobjectifythesubjectiveattitudeexistinginthecommandtone,makingthecommandappearmorereasonableandcannotberefuted.(1)Nowgetout,walkaroundthebackandholdthedooropenforme.Inthiscase,Frank'sfatherisonthevergeofbankruptcybecauseoftaxproblemsanddecidestoborrowmoneyfromthebank.FatherwaslecturingFrankonhowtokeepthebankfromfindingoutaboutthefamily'spredicament.Getout!Getout!Walkaroundthebackandholdthedooropenforme!"InordernottohurtFrank'sself-esteem,hisfatherchosetousetonemetaphor,expressingwordswithcommandfunctionindeclarativesentences.Theuseoftonemetaphorreducesthesenseofcommandinthediscourse,whichnotonlypreservesFrank'sself-esteem,butalsoachieveshiseducationalpurpose.(2)Iwantyoutogointothekitchen,sitatthetableandputanamedown.Inthiscase,Frankreturnshometofindalawyerinthehouseforhisparents'divorce,showinghimhowtosignthesupportpapers.Gointothekitchen!Gointothekitchen!Sitatthetableandputanamedown!"Inthissentence,ifthelawyerdidnotusetheconsistentmode,thatis,heaskedFranktodecidewhotostaywithafterhisparents'divorcebywayofanorder,hisattitudewouldbeverytough,whichwouldfurtherarouseFrank'sresistanceandresistancetohisparents'divorce,affectFrank'sdecisiononwhotolivewithinthefuture,andmakeitdifficultforhimtocarryouthisworksmoothly.Therefore,thelawyerusedtonemetaphorhere,sayingcommandfunctionstatementsinthetoneofstatement,moderatedhistone,andmadeFrankmorelikelytoacceptthefactofhisparents'divorce,soastobettercarryouthiswork.3.3AnalysisofImperativeMetaphorTheimperativemoodisonethatexpressesadirectcommand,need,advice,orrequest.3.3.1CommandFunctionEmbodiedbytheImperativeToneThestrengthoftheimperativereflectsthetoughnessofthespeaker.Eatthat.Comeon,comeon,eat.Inthisexample,Frank'sfather,inordertoattendanimportantmeetingwithFrankinthecity,servesbreakfasttoFrankwhenhegetsupinthemorningandcommandsFranktoeatquicklyusingtheimperativetone.Ma'amopenup,justopenupplease.Inthisexample,Frankandhisfatherinordertobemoreformaltothebankloans,specificallytotheclothingstoretoborrowasuitofFrankdressedwell,buttheclothingstorehasnotopened,Frank'sfathermetMrs.Darcy,withavoiceofprayertoaskMrs.Darcytoopenthedoor.Tobettermeethisneedtoborrowawell-fittingsuitforhissonFrank.Okeystopgrinning.Inthisexample,Franksuccessfullyreceivedasuitandcametothebanktogetaloan.Inordertokeepthebankstafffromfindingouthispredicamentandgivethemasenseofcomposure,Frank'sfatherorderedFranknottosmile.ItisgoodforbusinesstoinstructFrankandatthesametimeteachFranktoperformtheappropriateactivitiesintheappropriateplace.Let’sreturnthesuit.WhenFrankandhissongetoutofthebankandthecaristakenaway,thefatherusestheimperativestatementtotellFranktoreturnthesuit.Thisactnotonlyshowsthatthefatherdoesnottakeadvantageofothersoutofdespair,butalsoteacheshissontokeephispromise.Don’ttellyourmother.Inthiscase,Frank'sfatherquietlyopenedacheckingaccountforFrankasabirthdaypresent.Frank'sfathertoldFranknottotellhismotherbecausehedidnotgetherpermission,whichshowedafather'saffectionforhisson.Takeyourseats!WhenFrankhadtotransferfromanaristocraticschooltoanordinaryschoolduetochangesinhisfamilycircumstances,theclassorderwastoodisorderly.Frankpretendedtobethesubstituteteachertomaintainorderandusedtheimperativesentencetoorderstudentswhodidnotobeytheclassorder.ThissentencesuccessfullymadeFrankachievethepurposeofmaintainingtheclassorder.3.3.2TheFunctionofProvidingInformationEmbodiedbytheImperativeToneTheimperativemoodcanexpressmorethanadirectcommand,need,advice,orrequest.Wecanalsogettheofferfunctionthroughtheimperativemood.WhenFrankwascaughtpayingthebusstationwithafakecheck,hebeggedtheconductortolistentohim.Theimperativesentenceheusedwasgivenachancetoexplainitself.TellMomtopackherbagsandbuyanewswimsuit.ThisisFrank'slettertohisfathertellinghismothertopackupandbuyanewswimsuit.Frankishappytotakehisparentsonatrip.TheimperativeisusedtoprovidethisinformationtoFrank'sparents.Musthaveslippedrightoffyourneck.WhenFranksentagiftnecklacetoairhostessMarci,heusedtheimperativestatement.HeusedanimperativesentencetoprovideairhostessMarciwiththeinformationthatFrankwouldsendMarcianecklace.TheuseoftheimperativestatementwasbasedonFrank'sintentionandimplicitlyexpressedthelovebetweenthem.Igotyousomething.What'sthat?Thedialogueintheexampleof"Openit."istheconversationwhenFrankandhisfatherarehavingdinnerinahigh-endrestaurantandgivinggiftstohisfather.Frankaskshisfathertoopenthegiftboxwiththeimperativetone,andprovidesthemessage"thegiftisinthebox,youcanseethegiftwhenyouopenthebox"tohisfather.Itcanalsocreateafeelingofbeinglovedandcaredforhisfather.ChapterFourConclusionCatchMeIfYouCanhasbeenmadeintoamoviebasedonFrankAbanel.FrankAbanelistherealexistenceofsuchahigh-levelfraudster,usingaschemetodefraudthebankofmillionsofdollars,andeventuallyhewasarrestedfortheoldtrickofcallinghisname.StarringLeoasFrank,thefilmbeginswiththreehigh-rankingcriminalssharingtheircasesonstage.ThecameracutstoFrank’sfatheronstageintroducinghiswifeandson.Frankhadtomovefromabighousetoasmallonebecausehisfatherhadevadedtaxesandwasgoingbankrupt.Thebankwouldnotlendhimmoney.ThereareafewslyscenesofFrank’sfather,suchasanecklacemadeoutofnothing,acarandadrivermadeoutofnothing,askingFranktoopenthedoorforhim.HeisverygoodatpresentationandhasahighEQ.Franksawitallandusedhisfather’stricksinalifeofcrime.Frank’smotherlikedsmokingandenjoyedthelifeoftheupperclass.Shesuddenlymovedtoasmallhouseanddidnotadapttothelife,soshefiledfordivorcewithhisfather.Inthefirsthalfoftheplot,IthinkFrank’smotherdoesnotloveFranksomuch,andeventreatsFrankcasually.YoucantellbytheshotofmomdroppingFrankoffatschool.Myfather’sloveforFrankwastrue,buthewastoogoodatboastingandtooemotionallyintelligent.It’scomfortabletobearoundsuchpeople,butit’shardtogettothetruth.AfterFrankranawayfromhome,hechangedmoneywithacheckandfoundthatthebankwouldn’tchangeit.Thisisthemomentherealizedthathisfatherwasfacingthesameproblem,whichwasthelackofmoneyhere,whichcausedhimtobecomepoorandthenhismotherdivorcedhisfather.Hewrotetohisfatherduringhisfirstfakeidentityfraudwiththewords:"I’mgoingtogetitallbacknow.Ipromise,Iwillgetitallback."Hethoughthe’dbecomerichandhisparents’;relationshipandlifewouldgobacktothewayitwas.Thefatherknewtheboywascommittingacrimefromthefirstletterhewrote,buthedidnothingtostopit,muchlesstoreportittothepolice.Hebelieveshisson’sabilitytoavoidbeingcaughtbythepoliceisevidentinhisattitudeasheposesasasubstituteteacheratschool.Frankthendisguisedhimselfasvariouspeople,includingareallawyer,andpassedthebarintwoweeks.That’sanenviableintelligence.Unfortunately,Frank’sfatherdiedandFrankbecameanevenmoremiserableman.I’mgladImetCarl.Itwasagoodcopwhoputhimontherighttrack.Frank’stalentwasalsoputtogooduse.Inthispaper,themodalmetaphortheoryinsystemicfunctionallinguisticsisusedtoanalyzetheexampleofmodalmetaphorphenomenoninthedialoguefragmentsofcharactersinCatchMeIfYouCan.Itisnotdifficulttoseethatthesametonecanreflectdifferentfuncti