Barriers Of Communication

Submitted to: - Sir. Abdul Razzaq

Assignment of English
Degree: - BS Mathematics
Semester: - 3rd (Morning)

Arosha Arif ROLL# 308(89010)

Barriers to Effective Communication:-
There are many reasons why interpersonal communications may fail. In many communications,
the message (what is said) may not be received exactly the way the sender intended. It is,
therefore, important that the communicator seeks feedback to check that their message is clearly
understood. The skills of Active Listening, Clarification and Reflection may help but the skilled
communicator also needs to be aware of the barriers to effective communication and how to
avoid or overcome them.
There are many barriers to communication and these may occur at any stage in the
communication process. Barriers may lead to your message becoming distorted and you
therefore risk wasting both time and/or money by causing confusion and misunderstanding.
Effective communication involves overcoming these barriers and conveying a clear and concise
message.

 Linguistic Barriers
 Psychological Barriers
 Emotional Barriers
 Physical Barriers
 Cultural Barriers
 Organizational Structure Barriers
 Attitude Barriers
 Perception Barriers
 Physiological Barriers
 Technological barriers
 Socio-religious barriers
 The use of jargon
 Emotional barriers and taboos
 Lack of attention, interest, distractions, or irrelevance to the receiver
 Differences in perception and viewpoint
 Physical disabilities such as hearing problems or speech difficulties
 Physical barriers to non-verbal communication
 Language differences and the difficulty in understanding unfamiliar accents
 Expectations and prejudices which may lead to false assumptions or stereotyping
 Cultural differences
Categorization of Barriers to Communication
Language Barriers
Language and linguistic ability may act as a barrier to communication. However, even when
communicating in the same language, the terminology used in a message may act as a barrier if
it is not fully understood by the receiver(s). For example, a message that includes a lot of
specialist jargon and abbreviations will not be understood by a receiver who is not familiar with
the terminology used. Regional colloquialisms and expressions may be misinterpreted or even
considered offensive. See our page: Effective Speaking for more information.

Psychological Barriers
The psychological state of the communicators will influence how the message is sent, received
and perceived. For example, If someone is stressed they may be preoccupied by personal
concerns and not as receptive to the message as if they were not stressed.
Stress management is an important personal skill that affects our interpersonal relationships. See
our pages Stress: Symptoms and Triggers and Avoiding Stress for more information. Anger is
another example of a psychological barrier to communication. When we are angry it is easy to
say things that we may later regret, and also to misinterpret what others are saying.
Physiological Barriers
Physiological barriers to communication may result from the receiver’s physical state. For
example, a receiver with reduced hearing may not fully grasp the content of a spoken
conversation especially if there is significant background noise.
Physical Barriers
An example of a physical barrier to communication is geographic distance between the sender
and receiver(s). Communication is generally easier over shorter distances as more
communication channels are available and less technology is required. The ideal communication
is face-to-face.
Although modern technology often helps to reduce the impact of physical barriers, the
advantages and disadvantages of each communication channel should be understood so that an
appropriate channel can be used to overcome the physical barriers.
Systematic Barriers
Systematic barriers to communication may exist in structures and organizations where there are
inefficient or inappropriate information systems and communication channels, or where there is
a lack of understanding of the roles and responsibilities for communication. In such organizations,
people may be unclear of their role in the communication process and therefore not know what
is expected of them.

Attitudinal Barriers
Attitudinal barriers are behaviors or perceptions that prevent people from communicating
effectively. Attitudinal barriers to communication may result from personality conflicts, poor
management, and resistance to change or a lack of motivation. To be an effective receiver of
messages you should attempt to overcome your own attitudinal barriers to to help ensure more
effective communication.
To improve your overall communication skills you need to be aware of, and attempt to minimize,
any barriers to communication that are present. By developing your emotional intelligence you
will become more aware of how to communicate with others in the most appropriate and
effective ways.

Overcoming Barriers
Most of the above mentioned barriers can be overcome by the skilled communicator. Obviously,
bridging gaps in geography and communicating through disabilities are a topic for a different
discussion. Below, we will look at some tools that can be used to bridge barriers in everyday
communications.
Active Listening Active listening is a skill that can be acquired and developed with practice.
However, this skill can be difficult to master and will, therefore, take time and patience. 'Active
listening' means, as its name suggests, actively listening. That is fully concentrating on what is
being said rather than just ‘hearing’ the message of the speaker.
Active listening involves listening with all senses. As well as giving full attention to the speaker, it
is important that the ‘active listener’ is also ‘seen’ to be listening - otherwise the speaker may
conclude that what they are talking about is uninteresting to the listener. By providing this
'feedback' the person speaking will usually feel more at ease and therefore communicate more
easily, openly and honestly. There are both verbal and non-verbal cues that convey active
listening. Non-verbal signs include smiling (if appropriate), making eye contact, nodding at
appropriate times, and avoiding distractions. Theses non-verbal cues convey the message that
you are interested in what the speaker has to say, and that your attention is fully invested.

Offering verbal signs of active listening can also be useful. Reflecting on something the speaker
has said by asking a clarifying question is a terrific way to do this. Paraphrasing involves finding
slightly different words to repeat the main idea of the speaker, and is also great way to show
active listening.
Use Simple Language It’s important to remember the audience that you’re speaking to, and use
language that can be easily understood. Avoid using medical terminology or jargon when
speaking to clients and their families. People are often intimidated by such language, and can be
afraid to admit that they don’t understand the message being delivered. An important tool to
use when speaking is to pause occasionally and ask questions to ensure that your message is
being understood as intended. You may also allow the listener to ask questions to clarify any
points.
Give Constructive Feedback Remember that feedback was part of the communication chain we
looked at on the first page. While the feedback that you give the speaker/sender may
occasionally be negative, it is important that it be constructive in nature. The intent of the
feedback should be to further the abilities of the speaker. This will strengthen the interpersonal
relationship, and enhance future communications.

 The use of jargon

 Emotional barriers and taboos
 Lack of attention, interest, distractions, or irrelevance to the receiver
 Differences in perception and viewpoint
 Physical disabilities such as hearing problems or speech difficulties
 Physical barriers to non-verbal communication
 Language differences and the difficulty in understanding unfamiliar accents
 Expectations and prejudices which may lead to false assumptions or stereotyping
 Cultural differences