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Communication Barriers

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37 views5 pages

Communication Barriers

PROJECTS

Uploaded by

aryanmittall098
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Semantic Barriers

Semantic is the branch of linguistics, which deals with the meaning of


words and sentences. Semantic barriers refer to problems and
obstructions in the process of encoding and decoding of message into
words or impressions. Such barriers arise because of use of wrong words,
faulty translations, different interpretations, etc.

Some of the common forms of Semantic Barriers are:

1. Badly Expressed Message: Lack of clarity and precision in a message


makes it badly expressed. These badly expressed messages may be an
account of inadequate vocabulary, usage of wrong words, omission of
needed words etc. It may also happen when sentences are not properly
sequenced or words / sentences are frequently repeated. In such a case,
communication becomes ineffective as intended meaning is not
conveyed.

2. Symbols with Different Meanings: The same word or symbol may


carry different meanings to different people and convey different
meanings under different circumstances. For example, if a manager says
"This is the ideal (perfect) method", and subordinate interprets as "This is
the idle (useless) method", then communication will be ineffective.
Wrong perception leads to communication problems.

'Homophones' are words that sound the same but have different meanings
and usually different spellings. For example, Real and Reel, Price and
Prize, Plain and Plane, Mail and Male, Right and Write, etc.

3. Faulty Translations: Sometimes, the communication originally


drafted in one language (say, English) needs to be translated to the
language understandable to workers (say, Hindi). If the translator is not
proficient with both the languages, it may act as barrier in
communication.

4. Unclarified Assumptions: Some communications may have certain


assumptions which are subject to different interpretations. If the sender
does not clarify the assumptions about the message, then receiver may
have different assumptions.

5. Technical Jargon: Many specialist experts make use of technical


jargon (terminology) while explaining to persons who are not specialists
in the concerned field. As a result, they may not understand the actual
meaning of many such words.

6. Body Language and Gesture Decoding: The body movement and


gestures of communicator matters so much in conveying the message
because every movement of body communicates some meaning. If there
is no match between what is said and what is expressed in body
movements, communications may be wrongly perceived and listener may
get confused and misunderstand the meaning. For example, if a manager
is shaking his head sideways while saying 'Yes' to a proposal, then
workers will get confused.

Psychological Barriers

These barriers arise on account of the emotional or psychological status


or the state of mind of the sender and receiver of the message. For
example, a worried person cannot communicate properly and an angry
receiver cannot understand the real meaning of message.

Some of the Psychological Barriers are:


1. Premature Evaluation: Some people have tendency to form a
judgment before listening to the entire message. This is known as
premature evaluation. Such premature evaluation may be due to
prejudices against the communication.

2. Lack of Attention: The pre-occupied mind of receiver and the


resultant non-listening of message acts as a major psychological barrier.

For example, an employee explains about his problems to the boss who
is pre-occupied with an important file before him. The boss does not
grasp the message and the employee is disappointed. Such lack of
attention makes the communication process one-way and ineffective.

3. Loss by Transmission and Poor Retention: When communication


passes through various levels in the organisation, successive
transmissions of the message results in loss of or transmission of
inaccurate information.

 Loss of information is more in case of oral communication. Poor


retention is another problem.

 Usually people cannot retain the information for a long time if they
are inattentive or not interested.

4. Distrust: Lack of mutual trust between the sender and the receiver acts
as a barrier to effective communication. When the parties do not believe
each other, they cannot understand each other's message in its original
sense.

Organisational Barriers

In an organisation structure, communication has to pass through several


levels. Hence, it may not reach in the same shape as it was sent by the
sender. The factors related to organisation Structure, authority
relationships, rules and regulations may, sometimes, act as barriers to
effectiv Communication.

Some of the Organisational Barriers are:

1. Organisational Policy: Organisational policies determine the


effectiveness of communication. If the policy is not supportive to the free
flow of communication, then it may hamper the communication process.
For example, in a centralised organisation, people may not be encouraged
to have free communication.

2. Rules and Regulations: Rigid rules and cumbersome procedures


adversely affect the process of communication. Similarly,
communications through prescribed channel may result in delays.

3. Status: Status relationships create psychological distance between


superior and his subordinates. A status conscious manager also may not
allow his subordinates to express their feelings freely.

4. Complexity in Organisation Structure: The effectiveness of


communication largely depends on the nature of the organisation
structure. If the structure involves number of managerial levels,
communication gets delayed and distorted due to large number of
filtering points.

5. Organisational Facilities: If facilities for smooth, clear and timely


communications are not provided, communications may be hampered.

Personal Barriers

The personal factors of both sender and receiver influence the effective
communication.

Some of the Personal Barriers are:

1. Fear of Challenge to Authority: A superior always aims to maintain a


higher position and prestige in the organisation. If he fears that a
particular communication may adversely affect his authority, then he may
withhold or suppress such communication. Superiors often do not
communicate particular information in order to conceal their weaknesses.

2. Lack of Confidence of Superior on his Subordinates:


Communication process is hampered when superiors do not have faith or
confidence on the competence of their subordinates. In such cases,
superior may not seek advice or opinion of the subordinates.

3. Unwillingness to Communicate: Sometimes, the subordinates are not


willing to communicate with their superiors because they believe that if
information is not correct, it will adversely affect them.
4. Lack of Proper Incentives: When there is no motivation or incentive
for communication, subordinates may not take initiative to communicate.

For example, if there is no reward or appreciation for a good suggestion,


then subordinates may not be willing to offer useful suggestions.

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