BARRIERS OF COMMUNICATION

TYPES OF BARRIERS
BARRIER
● Hindrance, divider, obstacle,
LANGUAGE/SEMANTIC
boundary
● Meaning of the words confuses
● Something that makes it difficult
the listener
for people to understand
● Semantic - a branch of linguistics
● Definition is anchored in the
that deals with
context of comm
● e.g.:
● Anything that makes the comm
➢ Speakers use of foreign
process diff
language
➢ Listeners limited
● These are the ff factors that
vocabulary
influence the comm process:
➢ Differing interpretations of
➢ Comm skills – eloquence,
the meaning of a word
comprehension
➢ Attitudes – readiness to
SYSTEMATIC / ORGANIZATIONAL
listen, participate
● Lack of understanding of the roles
➢ Knowledge – knowledge
and responsibilities for comm in
you bring in, gain, and
organizations
share
● There are diff roles and
➢ Social system – responses
responsibilities to perform in
are affected by the social
comm
circle that you belong to
● e.g.
➢ Culture – we are a
➢ Groupwork, the member
reflection of our culture,
did not do his part,
there may be actions that
therefore they were not
are offensive
able to deliver on time
➢ The person did not perform
Communication breakdown
their duty and
● Failure to exchange info
responsibilities as a
● Caused by comm barriers
member of that group
● Message is not clearly understood,
feedback does not match the
expected result
ATTITUDINAL / PSYCHOLOGICAL
● Not smooth exchange
● Happens bc of noise ->
● Results to personality conflicts,
interference or anything that
poor management, resistance to
hinders the success of the comm
change or lack of motivation
process, all possible barriers to
● you are the problem, own
effective comm
understanding and perception
 ● You resist of the acceptance of
something
● e.g.
➢ you cant focus bc you had a
fight
PHYSICAL / ENVIRONMENTAL
● external noise, time, phys
distance, space, climate
● make it difficult for people to hear
one another
PHYSIOLOGICAL
● limitations of the human body
● personal discomfort, ill health,
poor eyesight, hearing difficulties
● e.g.
➢ fever, hoarse voice
CULTURAL
● make stereotypical assumptions
abt others based on their cultural
bg
● e.g.
➢ stereotype how women are
emotionally weak
➢ stem strand is smart
compared to other strands
AMBIGUITY AND ABSTRACTIONS
OVERUSE
● leavin things half said
● using too many generalizations,
proverbs or sayings
● all lead to comm that are not clear
and that can lend themselves to
misinterpretations
● e.g.
➢ Padungog dungog
INFORMATION OVERLOAD
● it takes time to process a lot of
info
● too many details can overwhelm
and distract the audience fr the
impt topics
● be aware and acknowledge that
there is a problem
● e.g.
➢ info overload ta the end of
the day, bc of such a long
day of classes, lessons from
the last period cannot be
absorbed properly
ASSUMPTIONS AND JUMPING INTO
CONCLUSIONS
● can make someone reach a
decision abt something before
listening to all the facts
● Having self confidence to assert
yourself despite the possible
assumptions that people may
make would allow you to
communicate what you want to
effectively
● barriers may distract or hinder
● make sure that they are not in the
way of making your point crystal
clear
● check the msg that you want to
express and make sure that you
are clearly comm

PROBLEMS THAT MAY ORIGINATE FROM
SENDER
1. POOR LANGUAGE SKILLS /
PROFICIENCY
● receiver will have difficulty if
speaker has probs with
pronunciation, enunciation,
grammar, intonation, org of ideas
● elaboration of the first type of
barrier / noise -> language /
semantic barrier
● lack of proficiency
2. INSENSITIVITY TO THE READER
● speaker should recognize the
receivers personal bg
● avoid unintended meaning
● identify the receivers preferences,
social status, edu bg, age, culture
etcetc
● do not assume that they are a
certain group of people without
counterchecking
● do not impose your standards and
procedures
● get to know your audience
3. LACK OF PREPARATION
● speaker should check accuracy of
facts and details
● organizational structure and ideas
should be good
● emotional problems
● expressions, and vocal variety may
● presence of emotional problems
and lacks self confidence
● must overcome apprehensions
thru speech practices and
experiences
● your emotional disturbances really
getin the way
● stage fright
CONTROL
● Power to regulate, direct, or
dominate
● Either you control or youre being
controlled
● Comm is an effective tool to
control the response of other
people
● Formal setting:
➢ Control comes fr authority
➢ Hierarchies give guidelines
for you to follow
➢ Teacher controls you by
giving sheds
● Informal setting:
➢ Set the stage for casual
convos that influence the
moods and behaviors of
the recipient
● Needed to assert authority / assert
ideas confidently
● Effective comm balances
authority / confidence with
understanding to avoid being
perceived as aggressive
● Spoken words can control
behavior in positive / negative way
VERBAL AND NONVERBAL CUES
● Body movements, facial
help convey a clearer message
 ● An able communicator is
consistent in using verbal and
nonverbal cues
● Control in comm does not have to
be egotistical to be influential
● Empathetic communicators display
a level of sincerity that helps turn
anger into respect and propels
positive action
SOCIAL INTERACTION AND
EMOTIONAL EXPRESSION
● Social interaction is one of the
remarkable benefits of being
human
● ^^ adds meaning and color
● Allows you to connect with other
people
● Comm provides a release of diff
forms of emotions
● Emotions may limit the
effectiveness of comm if not
handled correctly
● Poor comm may result in
misunderstandings and conflicts
● There is struggle to articulate how
you feel bc the more emotional you
are, the more irrational you are
● Key to effective emotional
expression is balance
● Remember that you are opening
an inner part of yourself to others
who may not know what youre
going thru
● Dont let your emotions get the best
of you
● Think before you say anything
● Abstract language can obscure the
true feelings you're trying to
express
Verbal and nonverbal cues
● In f2f comm, emotions nay be
expressed fully with the use of
body language:
➢ head nods
➢ Smiles
➢ frowns
● To avoid sending mixed signals,
your facial expressions must
match your words
Other things to remember
● To establish rapport, do not talk
abt ur own problems unless you
are asked / have valuable lesson
to share
● Show enthusiasm without being
overpowering / pushy
● Too much sharing of feelings may
be offensive to others
● Avoid making the other person feel
like they're the dumping ground of
your miseries
● Share in a way that you are able to
uplift the spirits of others
● Able communicator gives
impotence to people around them
Effective comm techniques:
1. Listen
● A monologue is not the
same as a dialogue
● Know when to stop and
listen
● There is an interaction and
exchange of ideas
● Learning begins when you
are ready to listen
 2. Ask questions
● Ask open ended qs
● Cannot be answered wd just yes
or no
● Refrain fr asking too much qs, may
indicate uncertainty or need for
attention
3. Limit the use of the words i or
me
● Comm is not about you
● Help others thru encouraging them
to open up so that you may satisfy
their emotional needs
4. Use nonverbal cues to show
candor
● Facial expressions and body
gestures speak a thousand words
Power comm strategy
● Give credit
● Ignore shortcomings
● Be generous wd giving praise
MOTIVATION
● Power that drives a person to
accomplish a desired goal
● Internal process - takes place in a
persons intellect, will, and
emotions
● Personal - nothing can do it to a
person except himself
● Interplay of diff forces surrounding
a person will have impact on his or
her ability to make choices
Effective comm fosters motivation
● Clarifies for indiv:
➢ What is to be done
➢ How well they are doing
➢ What can be done to
improve performance
● Constructive positive feedback will
motivate the individual to level up
● Highly motivated indiv work harder,
dream higher, and become more
productive
2 reqs in motivating a person:
1. Willing to communicate
2. Skilled at giving feedback and
practical recommendations for
improvement
➢ Change your perception of
the individual
➢ What potential do i see?
➢ What are the weaknesses
that block this potential
➢ What strengths will unleash
this untapped potential
GIVING CONSTRUCTIVE FEEDBACK
● Communicate observations
● Start wd an HONEST compliment
● ^^ earns trust
● Give suggestions
➢ These are only based in
your own perception
➢ They can accept / reject
➢ Use language that is not
weak or offensive
➢ Give realistic
recommendations
● Conclude by giving words of
encouragement, hope, and
approval
VERBAL AND NONVERBAL CUES
● Desire to motivate others may be
dampened by the tone of voice /
other body language
● Motivation must have contagious
energy
OTHER THINGS TO REMEMBER
● Words can always be used to
unleash potential
● Know the true value of human
potential
POWER COMM STRATEGY
● You can learn, not you failed
INFORMATION
INFORMATION EXCHANGE
● Giving and receiving info
● Principal function of comm
● All other functions involve info
exchange
● In oral comm:
➢ Roles of giver and receiver
of info may occur to an
indiv at any given time
● In formal settings:
➢ Roles may come at a more
predictable time
➢ E.g. someone is called to
recite in class
● In informal settings:
➢ Timing of roles may vary
depending on context of
convo
● Whether youre the giver / receiver,
you need the right kind of info
As a receiver:
● Use five senses to sense the truth
● Do research
● Use eyes and ears to detect verbal
and nonverbal comm
As a giver:
● Provide the right kind of info
● Message should not be
susceptible to diff kinds of
interpretations
HOW TO GIVE CORRECT
INFORMATION
1. Always tell the truth
● Receiver should have facts
● White lies, exaggerations, and half
truths are all incorrect info bc they
hinder the receiver fr the true pic
● ^^ distort the receivers view of the
situation and hinder them fr
making the right decision
● Focus on improvement and
success of the receiver
● Goal is to help, so speak openly
and honestly
● Receiver can embrace message
when directed to the real reason
why something has happened and
how they can change
2. Be specific
● Specificity is clarity
● Give every impt detail when
possible
● Abstract language does not bring
to mind a specific visual img - may
cause the receiver to interpret
things diffly
3. Be brief and to the point ● Use precise words to avoid
ambiguity
● Avoid clouding ur info wd doubts
and confusion OTHER THINGS TO REMEMBER
● Express intended msg in as few
words as possible ● Function of providing and receiving
● Use straightforward and concise info is groundwork for all other
language functions of comm
● Dont be verbose ● Without necessary info problems
● Remove words that are not cant be solved
essential ● Cooperation is not possible if
people are not properly informed
1. ELIMINATE REDUNDANT by each others emotions
WORDS
● Use info to:
● Some words dont serve any ➢ Express emotions
purpose in a sentence ➢ Motivate individuals
➢ Exercise control to help
2. ELIMINATE FILLER WORDS other people make the right
choice and accomplish
● Fill a pause in conversations desired result
● e.g
➢ Okay ● Effective comm uses the skills he
➢ You know or she learned to help other people
achieve their goals
3. USE CONTRACTIONS
● Info has a significant function in
● Shortened form of word grp of decision making
words ● Comm
● Missing letters that are replaced by
apostrophes

4. AVOID USING JARGONS

● Special words use dby a particular

grp / profession
● These words are difficult for others
to understand
● Use familiar words that are easily
recognizable and understood

5. BE PRECISE

● Precision means using the exact

right words at the right time
● More precise language, fewer
possible interpretations for double
meaning