failure to communicate clearly

Miscommunication frequently occur in our daily lives. This is a result of many

different factors as information is transmitted through the channel of
communication.
In my previous post Understanding the Communication Process, we have looked
at the channels of communication and how it can be distorted by noise. In this post,
we will be exploring the different causes of miscommunication that occur in
our daily life and how it might lead to miscommunication.
The one of the most common reasons for miscommunication would be because one
word could have multiple meanings. For example, a draft could mean rough work, a
bank draft, or even a strong current of wind.

In addition, a statement could simply be misinterpreted based on its context. For

example, consider a statement such as Let us leave now. To the receiver, this may
mean Let us leave immediately, while to the sender, this statement may mean
Let us start preparations to leave now. Such situations are most common the
office where people are under stress and time constraints. Miscommunications of
this sort inevitability happen and are a root cause of many of the conflicts and
misunderstandings that occur at the office.
Another cause of miscommunications would be because one word can sound similar
to another. For instance, a simple example would be I want to play which sounds
similar to I want to stay. This situation is further exasperated by the increasingly
globalize world where technological advances have made it possible for many
different cultures to be able to work and interact together. Different accents may
result in communication difficulties.
Human moods could also play a large factor in miscommunication. A person in a
foul mood may easily interpret the most innocuous statement as something filled
with malice. Hence, it is important to consider the non-verbal aspects of
communication as importantly as you would consider what a person says.

A failure to understand something correctly.

A disagreement or quarrel.

misunderstanding - putting the wrong interpretation on; "his misinterpretation of

the question caused his error"; "there was no mistaking her meaning"
misinterpretation, mistaking
interpretation - an explanation that results from interpreting something; "the report
included his interpretation of the forensic evidence"
imbroglio - a very embarrassing misunderstanding
misconstrual, misconstruction - a kind of misinterpretation resulting from putting a
wrong construction on words or actions (often deliberately)
misreading - misinterpretation caused by inaccurate reading
2. misunderstanding - an understanding of something that is not correct; "he
wasn't going to admit his mistake"; "make no mistake about his intentions"; "there
must be some misunderstanding--I don't have a sister"
misapprehension, mistake
misconception - an incorrect conception