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Employees’ willingness to adopt a foreign functional language in multilingual organizations: The role of linguistic identity

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  • Sarbari Bordia

    (Research School of Management, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia)

  • Prashant Bordia

    (Research School of Management, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia)

Abstract

Language holds a central role in sustainable international expansion for multinationals. The choice of the functional language can facilitate or hinder communication between headquarters and subsidiary locations. In order to communicate effectively with the parent organization, host country employees often have to adopt a language that is not native to the subsidiary region. We take a subsidiary employee perspective in presenting an interdisciplinary theoretical model of host country employees’ willingness to adopt a foreign language in multinational organizations. The construct of linguistic identity, shaped by the linguistic landscape of the host location, is introduced as an important determinant in this process. Specifically, the foreign functional language may pose a threat to the employees’ existing linguistic identity; willingness to adopt the foreign functional language may depend upon the extent of this perceived threat. We incorporate the effects of foreign language proficiency and individuals’ motivation for enhancement in the theoretical model. Both high proficiency in a foreign language and need for social, economic, and career enhancements can increase individuals’ willingness to adopt the foreign functional language. Finally, we develop and present implications of the linguistic identity processes for entry mode, location, and language strategies.

Suggested Citation

  • Sarbari Bordia & Prashant Bordia, 2015. "Employees’ willingness to adopt a foreign functional language in multilingual organizations: The role of linguistic identity," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 46(4), pages 415-428, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:pal:jintbs:v:46:y:2015:i:4:p:415-428
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    Cited by:

    1. Loderer, Anja & Muehlfeld, Katrin & Wilken, Robert & Moritz, Alexandra & Slomski, Véronique, 2024. "The language barrier as a springboard towards (team) creativity: An exploratory study of foreign language use in teams," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 33(2).
    2. Michalski, Marina P. & Śliwa, Martyna, 2021. "‘If you use the right Arabic…’: Responses to special language standardization within the BBC Arabic Service’s linguascape," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 56(5).
    3. Talukder, Sazzad & Barner-Rasmussen, Wilhelm, 2024. "Exploring the language choice dilemma of international small firms: A social exchange perspective on English-only versus multilingualism," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 33(3).
    4. Diemo Urbig & Katrin Muehlfeld & Vivien Procher & Arjen Witteloostuijn, 2020. "Strategic Decision-Making in a Global Context: The Comprehension Effect of Foreign Language Use on Cooperation," Management International Review, Springer, vol. 60(3), pages 351-385, June.
    5. Wang, Lei & Zhang, Chun & Jiang, Fuming, 2019. "Matching governance mechanisms with transaction-specific investment types and supplier roles: An empirical study of cross-border outsourcing relationships," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 28(2), pages 316-327.
    6. Ardito, Lorenzo & Peruffo, Enzo & Natalicchio, Angelo, 2019. "The relationships between the internationalization of alliance portfolio diversity, individual incentives, and innovation ambidexterity: A microfoundational approach," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 148(C).
    7. Iwashita, Hitoshi, 2022. "Language and identity in the shadow: A multi-case study of a Japanese multinational corporation," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 31(2).
    8. Back, Hilla & Piekkari, Rebecca, 2024. "Language-based discrimination in multilingual organizations: A comparative study of migrant professionals’ experiences across physical and virtual spaces," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 59(3).
    9. Päivi Karhunen & Anne Kankaanranta & Tiina Räisänen, 2023. "Towards a Richer Understanding of Language and Identity in the MNC: Constructing Cosmopolitan Identities Through “English”," Management International Review, Springer, vol. 63(3), pages 507-530, June.
    10. Peltokorpi, Vesa & Zhang, Ling Eleanor, 2022. "Host country culture and language identification, and their workplace manifestations: A study on corporate expatriates in China and Japan," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 28(3).
    11. David P. Kroon & Joep P. Cornelissen & Eero Vaara, 2015. "Explaining Employees’ Reactions towards a Cross-Border Merger: The Role of English Language Fluency," Management International Review, Springer, vol. 55(6), pages 775-800, December.
    12. Song, Hanqun & Yang, Huijun & Ma, Emily, 2022. "Restaurants’ outdoor signs say more than you think: An enquiry from a linguistic landscape perspective," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 68(C).
    13. Cooke, Fang Lee & Wu, Gang & Zhou, Jing & Zhong, Chong & Wang, Jue, 2018. "Acquiring global footprints: Internationalization strategy of Chinese multinational enterprises and human resource implications," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 93(C), pages 184-201.
    14. Vesa Peltokorpi & Markus Pudelko, 2021. "When more is not better: A curvilinear relationship between foreign language proficiency and social categorization," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 52(1), pages 78-104, February.
    15. Diana W.P. Kwok, 2018. "Boundary spanning and subordinate—leader trust: A tale of two acquisitions in a multicultural emerging economy," Post-Print hal-01744451, HAL.
    16. B. Sebastian Reiche & Tsedal B. Neeley, 2019. "Head, Heart, or Hands: How Do Employees Respond to a Radical Global Language Change over Time?," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 30(6), pages 1252-1269, November.
    17. Barner-Rasmussen, Wilhelm & Gaibrois, Claudine & Wilmot, Natalie Victoria, 2024. "Perfection, hybridity or shutting up? A cross-country study of how language ideologies shape participation in international business," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 33(1).
    18. Zhang, Ling Eleanor & Harzing, Anne-Wil, 2016. "From dilemmatic struggle to legitimized indifference: Expatriates’ host country language learning and its impact on the expatriate-HCE relationship," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 51(5), pages 774-786.
    19. Li, Jie & Zhao, Yue & Han, Xue, 2020. "Would you work abroad? The effect of English proficiency on Chinese employees’ willingness to accept international assignments," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 29(2).
    20. Bazel-Shoham, Ofra & Lee, Sang Mook & Rivera, Michael J. & Shoham, Amir, 2020. "Impact of the female board members and gaps in linguistic gender marking on cross-border M&A," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 55(2).

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