Barriers of Communication

Noise
There are a wide number of sources of noise or interference

that can enter into the communication process which prevent

the achievement of the desired result .
Barriers to reception
?Environmental stimuli
? The receivers attitudes and values
? The receivers needs and expectations
Barriers to understanding :
? Language and semantic problems
? The ability of the receiver to listen and receive, especially
messages which threatens his or her self concept.
? The length of the communication
? Status effects
Barriers to acceptance
? Prejudices
? Interpersonal conflicts between sender and receiver.

Sources of Noise
The following are the sources of noise or

barriers to communication :
1. Physical
2. Mechanical
3. Mental
4. Cross-cultural
5. Socio-psychological
6. Gender barriers

Physical
? Environmental Disturbances like traffic
noise, loud sound, passing train etc.
? Time and Distance
? Personal Problems of health
? Poor hearing ( due to defective hearing)
? Poor presentation due to speech defects like
stammering, lisping etc.
? Poor verbal skills

Mechanical Barriers
? Noisy transmission (unreliable messages,
inconsistency)
? The different media (machines or
instruments) used for communication, very
often becomes the barrier. Non-availability of
proper machines or presence of defective
machines.
? Wrong channels or medium

Mechanical Barriers

Mental Barriers
From the senders point of view

? ignorance of the language and confused thinking are

the mental barriers.
From the receivers point of view
? ignorance of the language, limitations in ability,
intelligence and understanding
? divided attention are the serious mental barriers.
? Semantic Problems occur when people use either the
same word in different ways, or different words in the
same way.
The choice of words or language in which a sender
encodes a message will influence the quality of
communication. Because language is a symbolic
representation of a phenomenon, room for
interpretation and distortion of the meaning exists.

Mental Barriers
Meaning has to be given to words and many factors

affect how an individual will attribute meaning to

particular words. It is important to note that no two
people will attribute the exact same meaning to the
same words.
? Misreading of body language, tone and other nonverbal forms of communication
? Receiver distortion: selective hearing, ignoring
non-verbal cues .
? Voice control - Pitch, modulation of voice helps in
making communication effective.
? Communicators thinking should be clear.

Mental Barriers

Cross Cultural Barriers

Effective communication requires deciphering

the basic values, motives, aspirations, and

assumptions that operate across geographical
lines.
Given some dramatic differences across
cultures in approaches to such areas as time,
space, and privacy, the opportunities for
miscommunication while we are in crosscultural situations are plentiful.

Socio-psychological
? Values, Attitudes and Opinions

Pre-conceived notions : We judge people

before they speak by allowing our opinions
and ideas of them come in the way of trying
to know what the speaker is saying.
Assumptions i.e. assuming others see
situation same as you, has same feelings as
you
Status effects : power struggles
Defensiveness, distorted perceptions, guilt,
distortions from the past, negative emotions
Distrusted source, erroneous translation,
different state of mind of two people.

Socio-psychological

Perceptual Biases: People attend to stimuli in the environment

in very different ways. We each have shortcuts that we use to

organize data. Invariably, these shortcuts introduce some
biases into communication. Some of these shortcuts include
stereotyping, projection, and self-fulfilling prophecies.
Stereotyping is one of the most common. This is when we
assume that the other person has certain characteristics
based on the group to which they belong without validating
that they in fact have these characteristics.

Interpersonal Relationships: How we perceive communication

is affected by the past experience with the individual.
Perception is also affected by the organizational relationship
two people have. For example, communication from a superior
may be perceived differently than that from a subordinate or
peer

Gender
barriers
There are distinct differences between the speech patterns in
a man and those in a woman. A woman speaks between
22,000 and 25,000 words a day whereas a man speaks
between 7,000 and 10,000. In childhood, girls speak earlier
than boys and at the age of three, have a vocabulary twice
that of boys.
The reason for this lies in the wiring of a man's and woman's
brains. When a man talks, his speech is located in the left side
of the brain but in no specific area. When a woman talks, the
speech is located in both hemispheres and in two specific
locations.
This means that a man talks in a linear, logical and
compartmentalized way, features of left-brain thinking;
whereas a woman talks more freely mixing logic and emotion,
features of both sides of the brain. It also explains why women
talk for much longer than men each day.

Gender barriers

Overcoming barriers to
communication
If communication is oral, it must be clear and not heavily accented.

? Words must be chosen in such a way that miscommunication is avoided.

? People should be oriented to listen with attention and read with
concentration.
? If instruments are used they should be in proper working condition.
? The communicator should try to reach the audience by speaking and
writing from their point of view. The you attitude must be used on all
occasions. Semantic noises must be avoided.
? All communication should try to persuade and not rush or overwhelm
people. Psychological barriers can be effectively overcome through
persuasion.
? Proper arrangement must be made to obtain feedback. The sooner you
obtain feedback the sooner will you be able to change your mode and
manner of communication and make it more effective.
? Make sure you are using the proper channel of communication whether it
is through written, verbal or with visual aids.

How Can a Sender Overcome Barriers

WHO : To whom should the message go ?
WHY : Why am I communicating ?
What are my motives ?
WHAT : Decide what to communicate. Be clear about
what you need to communicate.
WHEN : Choose the best time for optimum reception.
HOW : Use language the receiver will understand and
which unambiguous.
WHERE : Choose a location which will not interfere
with the reception, understanding and acceptance of
the message.
Keep checking with the receiver.

How Can a Receiver Overcome

Barriers
Be fully ATTENTIVE to sender.
Listen ACTIVELY to the messages being sent.
ASK for clarifications, reception where
necessary.
Keep checking with sender.

Together
Realize that misunderstandings are bound to
occur, and be ALERT for all cues to this effect.
LISTEN, listen, listen, and listen again.
TEST your understanding of the message.
Share OPINIONS, feelings and perceptions
generated by the message.

Together