SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL- Oral Communication in Context

STUDENT’S NAME: GRADE/SECTION:

TEACHER: DATE SUBMITTED:

BARRIERS OF COMMUNICATION
I. LEARNING SKILLS

A. Most Essential Learning Competency

Use various strategies in order to avoid communication breakdown.

B. Objectives
1. define barriers to communication.
2. distinguish effective communication from ineffective ones;
3. analyze situations highlighting ineffective communication; and
4. suggest ways on how to combat the barriers to communication.
II. INTRODUCTORY CONCEPT

Barriers to Communication is defined as the aspects or conditions that interfere

with effective exchange of ideas or thoughts.

There are several factors that may affect the effective flow of communication
namely:

Environmental Halo Effect

Technological Misinterpretatio
Organizationa n Fear
l Jargons Stres
External s
Noise Statu
Emotions s
Distance Chain of
command Trust
Issues

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Barriers have 5 major classifications:

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 1. Physical Barriers
2. Semantic and Language Barriers
3. Socio-Psychological Barriers
4. Cross Cultural Barriers
5. Organizational Barriers

To understand these 5 major classifications, let us discuss them one by one:

PHYSICAL BARRIERS

These are barriers to communication that are

distractive to our senses, maybe our sense of sight, hearing,
or others.

Common examples of these are: faulty

organizational structure, noise, time and distance, and,
information overload.

Source: Jadrav Namrata, Barriers to Communication, https://slideshare.net, (accessed June 22, 2020)

Look at the clippings below to know its more specific examples:

Source: Jadrav Namrata, Barriers to Communication, https://slideshare.net, (accessed June 22, 2020)

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 Semantic and Language Barriers

A random Japanese guy once said,

“Those who speak do not know and those who know, do not speak.”.
This is mainly because of Semantic and Language Barriers present
between and among speakers.

SEMANTICS is defined as the study of meaning, signs and symbols

used for communication. And, any alteration therein could cause blockage
to the flow.
Examples of these include:
Homophones (similar
sounding words)
a
il/ pale
Homographs (words that
have multiple pronunciation)
l
ead (to direct) / lead (an element)
Homonyms (words that
have multiple
meaning) l
ose/ close
Denotation (literal) and
Connotation (figurative)
C
heap (inexpensive/ cheap
(substandard)

Semantic and Language Barriers

On the same note, LANGUAGE BARRIERS also impact the delivery of the
message. Some of its common factors are:

language difference (a Chinese-national

speaking in Mandarin to an indigenous Filipino);
no clarity in speech (hoarse voiced
student delivering his valedictory speech);
using jargons (a lawyer mentioning legal
terms to a medical practitioner);
not being specific (using high falutin
words to impress people and being too wordy).

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 Socio-psychological Barriers

PSYCHOLOGICAL BARRIER can be described as the

cause of distorted communication because of human
psychology problems.
This barrier is mainly caused by:

ttitude and opinions

motions

iltering and distortion of message

tatus difference

n attention

losed mindedness

Cross-Cultural Barriers

You were taught in your Araling Panlipunan

discussion that CULTURE is one country’s attributions, norms,
orientation. Each and every country’s culture is unique and at
times, a slight difference could lead to misunderstanding:

Enlisted herein are the different cross-cultural

barriers, namely:language, values, social relation, concept of
time, concept of space and gestures.

Organizational Barriers

Sooner or later, you will be part of your dream company. And most jobs require not just your
hard skills but also soft skills like communication. And so, in order for you the stand out from
the rest, take note of these common existing barriers that exist within an organization, so to
avoid them:

Loss or distortion of messages as they pass from one level to another

Filtering of information according to one’s understanding/interpretation
Messages not read completely or not understood correctly
Deliberate withholding of information from peers perceived as
rivals Information gap if upper level does not know the true state of
affairs Lack of communication policy
Authoritarian attitude of management
Poorly defined authority and responsibility
Too many levels in organization structure
Insufficient communication training

Jadrav Namrata, Barriers to Communication, https://slideshare.net, (accessed June 22, 2020)

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 Additionally, we must also strive to take these
organizational actions such as:
Create a climate of trust and openness
- Develop and use formal information channels in
all directions
- Encourage the use of multiple channels including
formal and
informal communications
Fit communication needs to the organizational
structure
Source: Jadrav Namrata, Barriers to Communication, https://slideshare.net, (accessed June 22, 2020)

Now that you are familiar with the different factors and major classifications of
the barriers to communication, what now are the ways on how to avoid these?

Let us learn this time the different strategies to BREAK THE BARRIERS.

Overcoming Communication Barriers:

Everything starts with us, thus, we must commit to improving our individual skills through:

⮚ Listening actively
⮚ Selecting the appropriate channel for the message
⮚ Making a special effort to understand each other's perspective
⮚ Practicing MBWA (Management by Walking Around) by those in managerial
position

Specifically, below are the suggested ways that you may adopt to battle the 5
Major Barriers:

For Physical Barriers

❖ Plan Appropriate Seating Arrangement
❖ Ensure Visibility & Audibility
❖ Attain Environmental Comfort
❖ Minimize Visual/Oral Distractions
For Semantic and Language Barriers
❖ Use of Simple Language
❖ Maximize Symbols & Charts
❖ Practice Active Listening/
❖ Constructive Feedback
For Socio-Psychological Barriers
❖ Call Attention & Motivate
❖ Assist & Sympathize
For Cross Cultural Barriers
❖ Understand Traditions & Customs
❖ Be Informed of all Sides of Culture
For Organizational Barriers
❖ Adopt Simple Organizational Structure
❖ Avoid Information Overload

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 ❖ Have Flexibility in Meeting Targets
Source: Jadrav Namrata, Barriers to Communication, https://slideshare.net, (accessed June 22, 2020)

III. ACTIVITIES
A. Practice Tasks
Practice Task 1. Situation Association
Directions: From the POOL OF SITUATIONS found below, choose the most related
scenario opposite to its concept in each item. Write your answer in the space provided.

POOL OF SITUATIONS

a. A doctor using specialized language.

b. Thinking that poor people are illiterate.
c. Your friend who does not let you read an e-mail.
d. Cluttered spaces.
e. Use of homonyms and homophones.
f. Sending a communication through memorandum.
g. Distraction from the ambulance’s siren.
h. Talking to someone for something.
i. Poor reception of message.
j. Not talking to a superior

1. Status
2. Physical Barriers
3. Organizational Barrier
4. Personal Interest
5. Negative Self-Image
6. Distance
7. External Noise
8. Semantic Barrier
9. Trust Issues
10. Jargons

Practice Task 2. The Faces of Communication

Directions: Below are common scenarios where communication takes place.
Distinguish whether each scene is effective or not.
Draw ☺ if it’s effective, ☹ if otherwise or if neutral.

1. Using high tone of voice when conversing with someone

2. Sending a text message in complete words and proper punctuations
3. Winking to show agreement to a proposition
4. Responding late to an electronic mail or text message
5. Addressing someone with Madame/ Sir

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 6. Gossiping to friends and acquaintances
7. Using emojis/ emoticons to formal e-mail
8. Doing sign language when conversing to a mute person
9. Stuttering and stammering during a speech delivery
10. Maintaining eye contact during every conversation

Practice Task 3. My Handprint of Solutions

Directions: Draw a pattern of your hand, identify a major barrier you have witnessed
as a student and offer solutions which could have been made to avoid the identified
barrier. (Rank these solutions in order of importance.)

B. Assessment

1. Factor Analysis
Directions: Analyze the situation below, discuss the barriers encountered therein
and specify the factors that had affected the effective flow of communication.

SCENARIO: Write your analysis here:

Lucas was tasked to present an action

plan for their organization’s upcoming
project. He was able to pronounce
every word correctly but he showed
poor posture. He was fidgeting with his
pen, frequently brushing his hair,
playing with his ID, using vague
sentences, looking at his feet multiple
times and turning back from the
audience when writing on the board. As
a result, his presentation was
informative but not engaging and
interactive.

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IV.REFLECTION/COMMENTS/SUGGESTIONS

V. REFERENCES
Lombardo Jennifer, Barriers to Effective Communication: Definition & Examples,
https://study.com (accessed June 21, 2020)

Devito, The Basics of Human Communication, https://humancommkj.weebly.com,

(accessed June 21, 2020)

Bajracharya Shraddha, Semantic Barriers of Communication,

https://businesstopia.net, (accessed June 21, 2020)

Nordquist Richard, A Receiver’s Role in Clear, Effective Communication Is

An Important One, https://thoughtco.com, (accessed June 21, 2020)

Skills You Need, Active Listening, https://skillsyouneed.com (accessed June 18,

2020)

Knowledge Hut Tutorials, Project Management Concepts,

https://knowledgehut.com, (accessed June 18, 2020)

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Cambridge Dictionary, Sympathy, https://dictionary.cambridge.org, (accessed
June 18, 2020)

Business Dictionary, https://businessdictionary.com, (accessed June 18, 2020)

Jadrav Namrata, Barriers to Communication,
https://slideshare.net,(accessed June 22, 2020)

Congratulations! You have completed your learning adventure!

Good luck on your next learning journey!

Prepared by:

LALAINE M. RAPOSON, Teacher II

Legazpi City Science High
School SDO Legazpi City

Quality Assured by:

1. KRISMELLEH CASSANDRA LORENZITA B. MILLARE, Teacher II

Legazpi City National High School
SDO Legazpi City

2. NIDA D. BERNALDEZ
English QA Team Head
SDO Legazpi City

3. CLAUDIA MARILOU S. MARPURI

EPS-English
SDO Iriga
City

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