Communication is the process through which the source transmits any message, idea or information to the receiver through a medium. Barriers of Communication are the hindrances or difficulties involved in the process of Communication whereby the message is distorted and is not properly understood by the receiver.
TYPES OF BARRIERS-• Physical
• Linguistic or Semantic Barriers • Organizational Barriers
1. Physical Barriers - distance between places, distracting body movements, background noise etc.
• What is Noise?
• Any interference in the message sent and the message received leads to
2. Linguistic(Semantic) Barrier- unknown language, mispronounced sounds, incorrect grammar, difference in accent, lack of clarity could lead to create misunderstanding between sender and receiver while conversing or writing.
• Lack of common Language: Linguistic barrier occurs when the sender and the receiver belong to different Language backgrounds. E.g. A Japanese and a German might face this barrier in absence of a common language.
• Poor Vocabulary: An inadequate vocabulary can be a major hindrance in communication. At times your pen falters or your tongue fumbles as you search for the exact word or phrase.
• Poor Grammar, Punctuation: A major barrier occurs when the sender, in encoding the message, does not pay attention to the grammatical structure of the sentences. Punctuation marks, if not placed properly, can also lead to the distortion of the message. E.g.(Grammar) I want to marry my daughter. Correct: I want to get my daughter married. Hang him. Not Leave him. Correct: Hang him not. Leave him.
• Round About Verbiage: This sort of barrier occurs when the speaker does not come to the subject directly, rather beats about the bush, keeping the listener/receiver guessing about the actual issue.
he wishes to say and what he finally imparts may not be the same and the listener feels that the interaction is a waste of time. This happens when the sender is not well versed in the topic under discussion and fails to hold the attention of the receiver.
3. Organizational
Barriers-• Too Many Transfer Stations: The more links there are in a communication chain, the greater are the chances of miscommunication that will occur. Have you ever played ‘Chinese Whisper’ as a child? This will help you understand this particular barrier better.
• Negative Tendencies: Bonding between people who share similar values, attitudes, opinions, beliefs and behaviours is often termed as Group-ism. Often organizations too create work groups to facilitate certain organizational tasks. Communication barrier here surfaces often due to a conflict between the members and non-members or among the members themselves.
receiver as he has to figure out the exact import of the message and scanty information would make him grope for the actual intent of the message.
• Fear of Superiors: In rigidly structured organizations, fear or awe of
superiors prevents subordinates from speaking frankly. An employee may not be pleased with the way his boss works but is unable to put his point across because of losing his boss’ goodwill.
4. Psychological Barriers- Perceptions, preoccupied with some emotions, may
be due to anger, tiredness, stress, introvert nature, lack of confidence etc. • Wrong Assumptions: Wrong assumptions are generally made when the
emergency) but does not make it clear to the patient, who in turn thinks it is to be taken regularly.
• Varied Perceptions: Individuals in an organization perceive situations in
different ways as each man’s understanding differs. E.g. The story of the six blind men.
• Resistance to Change: When we come across information which is not in
conformity with our views, habits and attitudes, or appears unfavourable to us we tend to react negatively or even disbelieve. E.g. Resistance to adapt oneself to the advancing technology.
• Prejudiced Views: Be careful not to hold on to preconceptions about people
person or situation. Similarly, emotional outbursts also hinder communication. • Jumping to Conclusions: Not being aware of facts and drawing inferences on a
given situation on the basis of one’s perception causes this barrier. Inferences are more dramatic than facts and for this reason they give more scope for gossip and rumour to thrive. E.g. You’ve just returned from a business tour and find two of your colleagues missing. Not seeing them again for several days on the row, you jump to conclusion that owing to recession they’ve been laid off. As you start gossiping about it you learn the fact that actually they’ve been promoted and transferred.
5. Socio- Cultural Barriers- ethnic, religious, and social differences based on
cultural values.
• Cultural Variations: This is one of the predominant factors in
communication failure. As global residents we need to be aware of the customs, laws, and business practices of the companies of other nations we are dealing with. E.g. Maintaining Eye-Contact during conversation is seen as a sign of self-confidence in the USA, whereas the same activity is termed rude in Japan.
Effects of Barriers
2. Lack of Knowledge- If a receiver is unable to understand a message filled with technical information, communication will break down. Unless a computer user knows something about the Windows environment, for example, the user may have difficulty organizing files if given technical instructions.
3. Lack of Communication Skills- Those who have weak reading and listening skills make ineffective receivers. On the other hand, those who have a good professional vocabulary and who concentrate on listening, have less trouble hearing and interpreting good communication. Many people tune out who is talking and mentally rehearse what they are going to say in return.
report from your supervisor regarding proposed changes in work procedures and you do not particularly like your supervisor, you may have trouble even reading the report objectively. You may read, not objectively, but to find fault. You may misinterpret words and read negative impressions between the lines. Consequently, you are likely to misunderstand part or all of the report. 5. Physical Distractions- If a receiver of a communication works in an area with
bright lights, glare on computer screens, loud noises, excessively hot or cold work spaces, or physical ailments, that receiver will probably experience communication breakdowns on a regular basis.
Ways to overcome
barriers-• Sharpening communication skills
• Being receptive to changes • Improve listening skills • Avoid Jargons
• Open-mindedness • Analyze the feedback
• Message should be clear and brief • Use appropriate non-verbal clues
• Select the most suitable medium.
• Mirror face test
• Control Non-word fillers like u know, um, a, like, ok etc.
• Avoid fear
• Build credibility
• Develop emotional stability
• Dress according to the occasion.
• Create an open communication environment • Speak with pauses
• Be friendly and polite, show interest and be an active listener • Always keep the receiver in mind
• Avoid having too many transfer stations