COMMUNICATION BARRIERS

Introduction
Barriers are influencing factors which impede or breakdown the continuous
communication loop. They block, distort or alter information. It is anything that
interferes with understanding. Barriers to effective communication arise in the
mind of the sender, during the transmission process and in the receiver’s mind.
Some barriers result from outside influences in the communication process.
Communication barriers are also known as noise or interference. The following
are some of the common communication barriers
1. Language that is
a. Language differences, for example English speaker versus French
speaker,
b. Differences in language use, for example, what we call napkin is a
serviette to Americans. Napkins are called diapers in America.
c. Use of slang
d. Use of ambiguous words/phrases , for example
 Light (adj) – can mean not heavy or not dark
 Bank (n)– a financial institution or edge of the river
 Run (v) – to move fast or to direct/manage
OR
Use of ambiguous sentences such as
 Peter saw man with a telescope.
 John hit the old lady with an umbrella
 Jenifer gave her dog food.

e. Use of generic words/phrases such as cobra, Colgate, Mazowe, Surf etc

f. Use of informal language/colloquial words
g. Use of clichés
h. Use of vague language

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 i. Use of complex language
j. Use of jargon
k. Mispronunciations and misspellings
l. Poor choice of language
m. Differences in language variations (different accents & dialects)
2. Noise – that is, physical & psychological noise
3. Stereotyping – that is, having a fixed idea about people, group, culture etc,
especially an idea that is wrong.
4. Ethnocentrism– that is, conviction that your cultural perspectives are the only
correct ones
5. Cultural differences
6. Poor handwriting
7. Information overload
8. Information underload
9. Status differences/rank difference
10. Age differences
11. Pre-judgement/jumping to conclusions
12. Perceptual differences
13. Inappropriate timing
14. Poor listening skills/habits
15. Pre-occupation with other matters
16. Having negative feelings about the speaker
17. Lack of interest (Apathy)
18. Technical faults
19. Frustration or Anger
20. Fear
21. Hatred
22. Lack of trust
23. Lack of confidence
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 24. Prejudice – an unfair and unreasonable opinion or feeling especially when
formed without enough thought or knowledge.

The above list is not exhaustive as there are so many barriers to effective
communication and one of the most important ways through which effective
communicators can overcome these barriers is by an extensive investigation into
the characteristics of their audiences. The knowledge that will come from such an
investigation will help communicators to formulate messages with a desired
degree of effect and impact. In business, the audience can be outside (for
example, customers, suppliers, government etc) or inside (for example, workers).
In order to gain insight into how to prepare to interact it is necessary to analyse the
audience and develop good listening skills.

LISTENING SKILLS
Study/read Chapters 4 (Page 72 to 80) from your prescribed text book

The first step to becoming a skilled communicator is to listen. Listening is not

hearing. Hearing is a passive process in which we receive the sound in a
conversation. Listening is an active process whereby we are deeply involved with
the speaker. We pay attention to both facts and opinions expressed, as well as to
the speaker’s feelings and emotions. We remain alert and offer helpful feedback.

The feedback takes the forms of:

a. Acknowledgement, Parroting, paraphrasing and Summarisation of what is
being said. Parroting is repeating back verbatim the words of the speaker. It
confirms to the speaker that the words transmitted were the words received.
Paraphrasing is rephrasing, in your own words, the content of the sender’s
message to the sender’s satisfaction. It clarifies the message for both you and
the sender. Paraphrasing allows you to check your understanding of the
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 message and shows the sender, that you listened accurately. If you listened
inaccurately, the sender has an opportunity to correct the communication error.
b. Statements about what we think the speaker feels;
c. Questions to clarify what is being said;
d. Non-verbal signs that we are listening.

Importance of Listening
In all walks of life, listening is a prerequisite for interaction. You cannot progress
in business if you do not know how to listen well. Not listening properly will
bedevil you personal and social life. Active listening is important in interpersonal
communication because……….
1. People are more easily persuaded by spoken communication than by
written communication
2. In spoken communication we have less time to evaluate what is being said
3. We are less inclined to be critical of spoken communication
4. Poor listening stops the flow of a conversation because speakers quickly
become aware that they are not being listened to
5. Poor listening results in poor understanding both of the facts and of the
speaker’s attitudes and emotions.

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