Barriers to

Communication
CHARMEIN P. JAKOSALEM
 Communication is defined as
a process by which we assign
Communication and convey meaning in an
attempt to create shared
understanding. This process
requires a vast repertoire of
skills in intrapersonal and
interpersonal processing,
listening, observing, speaking,
questioning, analyzing, and
evaluating. Use of these
processes is developmental
and transfers to all areas of
life: home, school, community,
work, and beyond.
 Effective communication is very important,

as the free exchange of ideas can help

improve the ideas and clarify any

misunderstandings. There are many different

items that can present barriers to

communication:
1. Physical barriers
Physical barriers can make it difficult to
communicate effectively. These are due to
the nature of environment. For example in
business, this can happen when a company
opens up multiple physical locations and
needs their employees in those different
locations to work together.
It can be even more
difficult if a company
does not have up-to-
date teleconferencing
and video
conferencing software
to allow those
employees to
communicate with
those in the other
locations.
2.Language barriers

The inability to converse in a

language that is known by both
the sender and receiver is the
greatest barrier to effective
communication. Typically, little
communication occurs unless
one or both parties learns a
new language which requires
an investment of time and
effort.
 When a person uses inappropriate words while conversing or writing, it could lead to
misunderstanding between the sender and a receiver. The use of different languages ,
vocabulary, accent, dialect represents a national/regional barriers . The use of difficult or
inappropriate words/poorly explained or misunderstood messages can result in confusion.
 3. Cultural barriers

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 These include age, education ,
gender ,social status, economic position,
cultural background, temperament, health,
beauty, popularity, religion , political belief,
ethics, values, motives, assumptions,
aspiration, rules/regulation, standards,
priorities can separate one pers0n to0
another and create a barrier.
 These include age, education ,
gender ,social status, economic position,
cultural background, temperament, health,
beauty, popularity, religion , political belief,
ethics, values, motives, assumptions,
aspiration, rules/regulation, standards,
priorities can separate one pers0n to0
another and create a barrier.

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0BARRIERS%20COMMUNICATION&UM=1&IE=UTF-8&TBM=ISCH&SOURCE=OG&SA=N&T
AB=WI
Cultural barriers to communication, which often
arise where individuals in one social group have
developed different norms, values, or behaviours
to individuals associated with another group.

Cultures shape the way we think and behave.

They can be seen as both shaping and being

shaped by our established patterns of
communication.
4.Emotional barriers
Emotional barriers are those which affect people the most especially those with problems.

In emotional barrier there might be possibility that when you receive any message you are
emotionally blocked and cannot interpret the meaning of any specific message because you are
emotionally blocked at that time. So this problem can occur with both sides with receiver and
sender also.

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Emotional Barriers are the major category of
barriers that may make effective communication
difficult. These barriers are basically characterizes
by suspicion, mistrust and fear. While a little
amount of fear and lack of trust might be
necessary, excess of these things is not good and
prevents one from doing a lot of things including
difficulty in communicating.

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CATION&SPELL=1&BIW=1366&BIH=636

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Emotion:

This barrier relates to an individual's

state of mind when she is communicating.
If you are in a bad mood, your
communication skills are compromised,
and you may be unable or unwilling to
respond to a colleague or manager in an
effective manner.
 5. Individual barriers
Effective communication in the workplace is one of
the foundations of efficient teamwork and accurate
results. However, there are a number of barriers to
communication that employees experience on an
individual level, whether it has to do with perceptions
of their own skills and abilities or a reaction to the
personalities and values of those around them.
 6. Gender barriers
Relationships respect, workplace authority and education are common ways men and women are
pitted against each other. Communication, however, is the common denominator in all of those
situations, as it's the way both sexes are able to get their point across in any platform. Overcoming
barriers in gender communication isn't simple but can be made clear with a little patience and
understanding.
 Stereotypes
Men and women have a history of being painted into a box
of stereotypical personalities from childhood. Boys are
brawny and brash, girls are giddy and gossipy. Boys grow up
as men who have been illustrated as impatient,
unemotional, detached enigmas whose emotions are
seemingly untouchable. Women are portrayed as wearing
their emotions on their sleeves and coddling everyone and
everything they come in contact with. Basing gender
communication on childhood fantasies creates a battle of
the sexes that can foster barriers.

http://www.ehow.com/list_6824500_gender-barriers-communication.html?ref=Track2&utm_source=ask
 It has been demonstrated in studies that women communicate more on a regular basis than
men do. Though both sexes have both kinds of communicators, women are more likely to be
right-brain communicators -- abstract and intuitive. Men are more likely to be left-brain
communicators -- linear and logical. Depending on your own makeup, this could be a barrier.
Both men and women have to learn how to communicate in a way that allows both sexes to
receive and understand the message.

http://www.ehow.com/facts_5459480_types-
barriers-communication.html
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 7.Lack of subject knowledge

If a person who sends a

message lacks of subject
knowledge then he may
not be able to convey his
message clearly. The
receiver could
misunderstand his message
, and this could lead to a
barrier to effective
communication
If you are using technical
terms or other language
your audience does not
understand, you will miss
the mark. Even an
audience that should be
sympathetic to you could
end up providing negative
feedback because you
chose to speak only to
your own level of
knowledge or experience
rather than considering
theirs.
 8. Stress
When a person is under immense stress, he may
find it difficult to understand the message,
leading to communication distortion. At the time
of stress, our psychological frame of mind
depends on our beliefs, experiences, goals and
values. Thus we fail to realize the essence of
communication.
 9. Attitudinal
Limitation barriers
in physical
and mental ability,
intelligence,
understanding, pre
convinced notions, and
distrusted source divides
the attention and create
mechanical barriers
which affects the attitude
and opinion.
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 10. Channel barriers

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If the length of the communication is long, or the medium selected is inappropriate, the
communication might break up.

It can also be a result of the inter –personal conflicts between the sender and receiver.

Lack of interest to communicate.

Lack of information sharing or access problems which can hamper the channel and affect
the clarity, accuracy and effectiveness.