Investigating the effect of language exclusion among organizational employees on interpersonal work behavior

Organizational and demographic trends are interrelated, and language issues are at the heart of these processes. Although language has the inherent ability to create interpersonal connections, it can be used as a means of excluding individuals. The structure of linguistic rejection describes this phenomenon. In this study, the researcher used ethnic-linguistic identity theory to examine how language exclusion affects two interpersonal work behaviors: interpersonal citizenship behaviors and interpersonal behavioral deviance. For this purpose, we used data from three large Iranian companies. The results showed that language exclusion was associated with lower interpersonal citizenship behaviors and higher interpersonal deviant behaviors. These results showed that identity group non-identity acts as a mechanism to explain language exclusion that leads to interpersonal citizenship behaviors and interpersonal deviant behaviors. In addition, employees who are linguistically excluded and have lower social self-efficacy participate in fewer interpersonal citizenship behaviors and more interpersonal deviant behaviors. We discuss the theoretical implications of the phenomenon of language exclusion and its implications for managers working in various organizations. Organizational and demographic trends are interrelated, and language issues are at the heart of these processes. Although language has the inherent ability to create interpersonal connections, it can be used as a means of excluding individuals. The structure of linguistic rejection describes this phenomenon. In this study, the researcher used ethnic-linguistic identity theory to examine how language exclusion affects two interpersonal work behaviors: interpersonal citizenship behaviors and interpersonal behavioral deviance. For this purpose, we used data from three large Iranian companies. The results showed that language exclusion was associated with lower interpersonal citizenship behaviors and higher interpersonal deviant behaviors. These results showed that identity group non-identity acts as a mechanism to explain language exclusion that leads to interpersonal citizenship behaviors and interpersonal deviant behaviors. In addition, employees who are linguistically excluded and have lower social self-efficacy participate in fewer interpersonal citizenship behaviors and more interpersonal deviant behaviors. We discuss the theoretical implications of the phenomenon of language exclusion and its implications for managers working in various organizations.