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Lesson 5 - Barriers To Effective Communication

This document discusses barriers to effective communication. It identifies six types of barriers: semantic noise due to misunderstood meanings; syntactic noise from grammar mistakes; environmental noise from loud distractions; psychological noise from emotions or mindsets; cultural noise from differing cultural norms; and physiological impairments from disabilities. It then provides ways to overcome these barriers, such as clarifying ideas beforehand, considering the receiver's needs, being aware of language and tone, seeking advice, and avoiding overloading information. The assessment questions check understanding of how semantics, physiology, and appearance can impact communication, and asks readers to share a personal experience with communication barriers.

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Mary Rose Bobis Vicente
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1K views2 pages

Lesson 5 - Barriers To Effective Communication

This document discusses barriers to effective communication. It identifies six types of barriers: semantic noise due to misunderstood meanings; syntactic noise from grammar mistakes; environmental noise from loud distractions; psychological noise from emotions or mindsets; cultural noise from differing cultural norms; and physiological impairments from disabilities. It then provides ways to overcome these barriers, such as clarifying ideas beforehand, considering the receiver's needs, being aware of language and tone, seeking advice, and avoiding overloading information. The assessment questions check understanding of how semantics, physiology, and appearance can impact communication, and asks readers to share a personal experience with communication barriers.

Uploaded by

Mary Rose Bobis Vicente
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Lesson 5: Barriers to Effective Communication

Learning Outcome: At the end of the lesson, the students should be able to:
a. Identify the factors that may hinder communication;
b. Explain how different factors become the barrier of communication;
c. Give different ways on how to avoid the barriers to communication.
There are many barriers that hinder the transmission and reception of the message and
they may occur at any stage of the communication process as follows:

 Semantic Noise. Semantic Noise refers to the misunderstanding between the


sender and receiver arising due to the different meanings of words, and other
symbols used in the communication. This barrier may either be denotative or
connotative. In a denotative barrier, the sender and the receiver disagree about
meaning of a word or phrase (meaning of word used differently). A connotative
barrier means that a word has different meaning in a particular context, abstract
situation and emotions. Another semantic barrier is the use of technical language
which tends to use different terms differently.
 Syntactic Noise. Syntax refers to grammar, structure or set of rules that govern
how words are combined in meaningful phrases and sentences. Communication
can be disrupted by mistakes in grammar such as an abrupt change in verb
tense during a sentence as shown in this sentence.

 Environmental Noise. This noise refers to the type of barrier that physically
disrupts communication such as very loud music at a party/ affairs, sounds from
a construction site next to a classroom, blowing of horns from vehicles outside,
banging of the doors from the adjacent room.

 Psychological Noise. A type of interference that occurs within our minds as we


try to communicate with others and certain attitudes that can also make
communication difficult. For example, a person’s emotional state may affect the
way he communicates. Another, in the state of anger, depression, worries and
fear may cause to lack of concentration in listening as well in communicating.
Daydreaming and being preoccupied with some personal and mental concern
are other examples of this type of barrier.

 Cultural Noise. Differences in culture may interfere with cross-cultural


understanding. Each culture has its own rules about proper behavior which affect
verbal and nonverbal communication. For example, the emotions that one
displays in a certain situation differ from culture to culture. Some cultures get
emotional when they are debating an issue. They yell, shout and talk with each
other in a loud manner that can be misinterpreted by other cultures as an
altercation.
 Physiological-Impairment Noise. Physical conditions such as deafness or
blindness can hinder effective communication and interfere with the reception of
the message. In this case, communication will be a failure.
SOME BARRIERS OF COMMUNICATION:

1. Instructional Barriers of Communication. Wrong presentation of the


symbols without knowing the purpose and nature of the audience. Symbol
can distort the whole impact of the presentation.

2. Lack of Communication Skills. Usage of the wrong and difficult words might
send the wrong impression in the eyes of the audience. If a communicator
cannot speak well, stammer while speaking because of lack of exposure and
experience in the communication process.
3. Lack of the Sufficient Knowledge. There are some who cannot explain well
a competed word or ideas in a simple way or limited knowledge about it which
bound to become a biggest stumbling block in your career and personal
growth.

4. Emotional Turbulence. Your emotional aggression in any form be it anger,


fear, worry and anxiety can be misconstrued and misinterpreted, you will not
be able to convey your thoughts well as you feel severely engrossed in
emotional turmoil.

5. Inappropriate Mode of Communication. The inappropriate way of


communication simply means your message is not being delivered well that
create barrier for the listener as it would be frustrating as well time
consuming.

Ways to Overcome Barriers to Communication


1. Clarify ideas before communication (have clarity of thoughts). The
person sending the communication should be very clear in his mind about
what he wants to say. He should know the objective/ goal or purpose of his
message and therefore he should arrange well his thoughts in a proper order
and then communicate accordingly. Stay open-minded and willing to
accept/entertain for questions and answers coming from the target audience.
2. Communicate according to the need of the receiver. The sender should
be emotional and sensitive towards the needs of the receiver. The sender of
the communication should prepare the structure of the message not
according to his own level or ability but he should keep in mind the level of
understanding, culture, behavior and the environment of the receiver.

3. Be aware of language, tone and content of message. The sender should


take care of the fact that the message should be framed in clear and accurate
language. The tone of the message should be appropriate, polite and not
upset the feelings of the receiver.
The content of the message have a great impact to the receiver and
meaningful.

4. Seek the advice of others before communicating. If you are going for a
high prolific meeting, seek the advice from your seniors and colleagues on the
level and kind of talk that should be given. You can get many ideas which can
build your motivation, and additional knowledge to meet your objective.

5. Keep a routine check on the communication system. All the efforts should
be made to know whether you should focus on the formal or informal way to
communicate. The situation needs to be analyzed to decide on the
appropriate way of communication and whether audience loves to talk
informally or in a formal way.
6. Avoid overloading too much of information. People would get bored if they
are bombarded with the unnecessary and too much of information. Deliver the
informative, useful and meaningful to the listener in a most simple and
straightforward way as a result no confusion at all in the mind of the listener.
Assessment: Check your understanding of the input by answering the following guide
questions:
1.How can semantics be a barrier to communication?
2.How can physiological barriers affect communication?
3.Can you consider the speaker’s appearance an external barrier? Why?
4.Everyone experienced a problem/ barrier when communicating with others. Share
your experience by writing a short narration of what has happened.

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