Mr. Sai, Mr. De and the New Economy: The Influence of Historical Language on Legitimation Strategy for Entrepreneurs

摘要

In this paper, I propose a theory about the role of language as both a constraint and enabler of the entrepreneur’s ability to manage the legitimation process of a new venture. Rhetorical strategies can be used by entrepreneurs in order to shape the institutional environment in ways that are beneficial to the new venture. But their ability to use rhetoric is constrained by the linguistic environment, which is embedded socio-culturally. The specific constraint is the language of change. Entrepreneurs that are able to frame the language of change in favorable ways are able to control the legitimation process more effectively. I then use an analysis of the use of May Fourth rhetoric by Chinese entrepreneurs in the Internet industry in the late 20th century as an illustration of this theory.