1.

5: Barriers to Communication

The word barrier means an obstacle, a hindrance or simply a problem that comes in the way of transmission
of a message and blocks the process, either completely or partially. In the process of communication, it is
necessary that the sender‘s message is not only received but also understood, because it ensures proper
feedback. However, sometimes the message is not sent properly or received properly, or it is not fully or
correctly understood. When any such thing happens, we say that a barrier has arisen in the process. A
barrier, therefore, is any factor which interrupts the process of communication.

Barriers may arise at any point in the process of communication from the sender or the receiver, in the
message, the medium, or the feedback. A barrier can even arise outside the process and still cause an
interruption. This means that there are different kinds of barriers. These can be divided into four main
groups:

1. Physical/Environmental Barriers:
Physical barriers can be caused by environmental factors like noise, time and distance. The noise created by
external factors like traffic, playing of loud music, trains and aeroplanes, or by crowds of people, affects our
communication. Time becomes a physical barrier when people have to communicate across different time
zones in different countries. The physical distance between people who need to communicate can also cause
problems because it does not allow oral or face-to-face communication.

Physiological defects and limitations like stammering, hearing defects, mumbling while speaking, are
examples of physical barriers. Mechanical problems and defects in instruments of communication also create
physical barriers, as in a faulty fax machine or typewriter. Similarly, a computer that hangs, or a dead
telephone line can lead to non-transmission of messages.

2. Language or Semantic Barriers:

Language is the main medium of communication and words are its tools. Language proves to be a barrier at
different levels, such as semantic (meaning), syntactic (grammar), phonological (pronunciation, intonation,
pitch etc.) and finally linguistic (across languages) Thus, language barriers can arise in different ways:

a. Words are of two kinds–extensional and intentional words. Extensional words are clear in their meaning
and therefore do not create barriers such as words like boy, chair, garden etc. Intentional words are
words that describe and they can be understood differently by different people, according to the
meaning that a person gives to the word. Thus good, bad, beautiful are intentional words, and a simple
sentence like she is a good girl can create confusion because the meaning of the word ‘good’ is unclear.

b. Sometimes, the same word is used in different contexts, giving rise to totally different meanings. A word
like hard, for example, can be used in different ways: hard chair, hard-hearted, hard drink, having a hard
time. All these use the same word but the meanings are different.

c. Barriers can be created when we come across words, which have the same sound when pronounced, but
which mean very different things. Examples: words like fair and fare; bear and bare; council and counsel.

d. Unfamiliar language becomes a barrier when people do not know each other‘s language. This barrier
can be overcome by using a common medium of communication, as in a classroom. Translation is also an
important way of overcoming this barrier.
e. Jargon or Unfamiliar Terminology: There are some special terms or technical words used by people
belonging to a certain group or field of work such as doctors, lawyers, computer software engineers or
college students. They use words which are their own, specialised argon which cannot be understood by
anyone outside their group.

3. Psychological Barriers:
Psyche means mind. Psychological barriers are created in the mind. Communication is a mental activity and
its aim is to create understanding. But the human mind is complex and not all communication can result in
understanding. There are several kinds of psychological barriers which can come in the way of
understanding.

a. Emotions: Emotions are among the most common psychological barriers to communication. The
emotion may be connected to the communication received or it may be present in the sender‘s or
receiver‘s mind, even before the communication takes place. In both cases, it acts as a barrier. Emotions
can be positive, like happiness and joy, or negative, like fear, anger, mistrust etc. Both positive and
negative emotions act as barriers, if they are not kept in check.

b. Prejudice: A prejudice is an opinion held by a person for which there is no rational basis or valid reason.
It can be against something or someone, or in favour of it, but it becomes a barrier to meaningful
communication. Prejudices are based on ignorance and lack of information, e.g., prejudices about certain
communities or groups of people.

c. Halo effect: Sometimes our reactions to people are not balanced or objective; they are of an extreme
nature. Either we like a person so much that we can find no shortcomings in her/him, or we dislike
someone so much that we can see nothing good in her/him. In both cases, we commit errors of
judgement and fail to understand the person.

d. Self-image or different perceptions: Every person has in her/his mind a certain image of herself/himself.
S/he thinks of herself/himself in a certain way. This is their perception of themselves, their self-image.
One‘s self- image is the product of one‘s heredity, one‘s environment and one‘s experiences, and thus
every person‘s self- image is unique and different from the others. Self-image can create a barrier
because we accept communication which is compatible with our self-image. We avoid or reject
communication, which goes against our perception of ourselves.

e. Closed Mind: A closed mind is one which refuses to accept an idea or opinion on a subject, because it is
different from his idea. Such persons form their opinion on a subject, and then refuse to listen to anyone
who has something different to say about it. A closed mind may be the result of some past experience or
just habit. It is very difficult to remove this psychological barrier.

f. Status: Status refers to rank or position. It could be economic, social or professional status. In any
organisation, hierarchy creates differences in rank, and this is a normal situation. Thus, status by itself
does not cause barriers; but when a person becomes too conscious of his status, whether high or low,
then status becomes a barrier. For instance, in a business organisation, a senior executive who is unduly
conscious of his seniority will not communicate properly with his juniors, and will refrain from giving
them the required information. Similarly, if a junior is acutely conscious of his junior status, he will avoid
communicating with his seniors, even when it is necessary.
g. Inattentiveness and Impatience: Sometimes the receiver may not pay attention to the sender‘s message,
or he may be too impatient to hear the message fully and properly. Such barriers are common in oral
communication.

4. Cross– Cultural Barriers:

Mary Allen Guffey defines culture as the complex system of values, traits, morals and customs shared by a
society.

Cultural diversity within a country, and cultural differences between people from different countries, are a
major cause of barriers. This is because people are conditioned by their cultures, and they develop certain
habits of working, communicating, eating, dressing etc. according to their cultural conditioning. They find it
difficult to get through to people who come from an alien culture, and who have different habits. A simple
thing like a greeting to welcome a person is vastly different in India from a greeting in, for example, an Arab
country, or in Japan. Food and dress habits of a different culture can make a person uncomfortable. Concepts
of space and time are also different across cultures; for example, Indians do not mind sitting close to each
other and sharing space in offices or in public places. However, a European would not be able to tolerate such
intrusive behaviour. Similarly, people who come from a culture where time is very valuable will be impatient
with those who come from a culture with an easygoing attitude towards time, where everything is done in a
slow, unhurried way.

Ways to Overcome these Barriers

Barriers disrupt communication and interfere with understanding. They must be overcome if communication
has to be effective.

Physical barriers are comparatively easier to overcome. The use of loudspeakers and microphones can
remove the barriers of noise and distance in crowded places like railway stations. Traffic signals and
non-verbal gestures of the traffic policeman remove physical barriers on the roads. Technological
advancement has helped in reducing the communication gap arising due to time and distance. It is possible
to make an alternative arrangement, if the technological instruments fail. A back-up plan helps in tidying over
any snag.

Language or Semantic Barriers can be overcome if the sender and the receiver choose a language which both
of them understand very well. Help from a translator or an interpreter also helps in overcoming the language
barrier. Exposure to the target language and training oneself in the acquisition of skills of the given language
too help in overcoming the language barrier. Language barriers can be avoided by careful study and accurate
use of language. Clarity should be the main objective when using language. Jargon should be avoided.

Psychological barriers, as also cross-cultural barriers are difficult to overcome, as they are difficult to identify
and even more difficult to address. Even these can be avoided or reduced by adopting a flexible and
open-minded attitude. The ultimate aim is to build bridges of understanding between people– that is the
main aim of communication. Training oneself to listen to different views, exposing oneself to different
environments help in broadening one‘s outlook and cultivating tolerance to multiple views. Teaching oneself
to listen with empathy helps in making oneself more open to others’ perceptions.

While dealing with psychological or cross-cultural barriers the sender should make it a point to
(i) use language that is politically neutral and correct.
(ii) present views in simple and objective manner
(iii) focus on the objective of communication