The prior literature on role congruity theory has revolved around demographic-based expectations, emphasizing role incongruity derived from a mismatch between prescriptive expectations of distinct roles. In this paper, we depart from this traditional focus on between-role incongruity and explore an alternative source of role incongruity by examining how language can trigger the within-role incongruity of function-based expectations. Through an analysis of conference call transcripts and contracts for 7,649 deals during 2003–2018, we show that the incongruity of function-based expectations manifested through the language of the CFO increases banks’ perceived hazards, leading them to employ more debt contract covenants. In addition, by investigating the moderating effects of corresponding CEO language and media sentiment, we show how the social context and sentiment toward the firm weaken this incongruity effect. We discuss the theoretical implications of our study for future research on the sources of role incongruity and the antecedents of contract design.

中文翻译：

---

CFO 基于职能的语言不一致的缺点

先前关于角色一致性理论的文献围绕基于人口的期望展开，强调角色不协调源于不同角色的规定期望之间的不匹配。在本文中，我们摆脱了对角色间不协调的传统关注，并通过研究语言如何触发基于功能的期望的角色内不协调来探索角色不协调的替代来源。通过对 2003 年至 2018 年期间 7,649 笔交易的电话会议记录和合同的分析，我们表明，通过首席财务官的语言表现出的基于职能的期望的不一致增加了银行的感知风险，导致他们采用更多的债务合同契约。此外，通过调查相应 CEO 语言和媒体情绪的调节作用，我们展示了社会背景和对公司的情绪如何削弱这种不协调效应。我们讨论了我们的研究对未来关于角色不协调的来源和合同设计的前因的研究的理论意义。