This article introduces the concept of indirect speech and shows what it can contribute to understanding "legitimacy … pass the salt?"). Transporting concepts from pragmatics and sociolinguistics, this article argues that legitimacy talk … generalized legitimacy claims. Understanding this double role of legitimacy talk sheds light on otherwise puzzling empirical …

expectations within their own legitimacy contexts, yet the buyer's stakeholders still withdraw legitimacy from and harm the buyer … theory and institutional theory. The analysis shows that accounting for the differing legitimacy contexts is necessary for …