Barriers to Communication

What is a barrier?
In terms of communication a barrier prevents a message being heard or understood by another person which in fact may create a wall/barrier between the people communicating.

General Communication Barriers

  

What are the barriers in general communication?

- Lack of concentration
- Terminology used
- Problems with technology
- Diverse audience
- Disabilities
- Lack of concentraction

Problems with technology and how it affects communication

Today's society is very much familiar with technology and what it has to offer. This specifically involves communication between people, but there may be problems associated with the use of technology in communication.

When we talk about communication with the use of technology we mean mobile phone texting, e-mail, instant messaging such as Skype/MSN, or podcasting / blogging.

The common problems in users having problems in communicating via the use of technology may be the user’s lack of knowledge on how to use the computer e.g. not knowing how to switch on the PC, log-in etc. all of these factors affect communication which may also be considered as a barrier to communication.

There are also problems not necessarily related to the user but the hardware/software itself. When it comes to the computer systems problems such as network issues may appear which may include for example a faulty connection or lack of it. Firewall restrictions also come into action where the user is trying to use of the instant messaging software’s such as Skype, MSN etc. When the user installs these kinds of programs sometimes the firewall may prevent the program from communicating with the internet. This means that the program will be unable to connect to the internet and prevent the user from accessing the internet and communicating with others.

Terminology Used

There are many barriers to the language used in a communication between people.

The most common issue in a communication between people may be language barrier. This happens when people cannot communicate with each other because of the language barrier that is present between them. This means that if the people that are trying to communicate aren't speaking the same language, it might be difficult for them to understand each other and communicate effectively.

On the other hand, when the terminology is too easy or too difficult the audience may feel like t hey are being patronised.

Interpersonal Communication Barriers

What are the barriers in interpersonal communication?

- Bad body language
- Background noise
- Distractions
- Lack of concentration
- Use of negative language
- Negative emotions

Body language barriers

When you are communicating with someone it is important to use appropriate body language. Our body language can give messages that contradict our words. For example, not looking at the person speaking, crossing arms or legs to block out the speaker, or even doing another task while someone is speaking gives a negative impression that you simply don't care. People who are intuitively sensitive to the meanings of the body language will pick up on this and immediately feel the person's disinterest. Those kind of actions are creating barriers to interpersonal communication and are creating a negative impression between the two.

The correct body posture and language explains it all to the listener about your attitude towards him. The listener can see if you're flashing or rolling eyes, quick or slow movements, arms crossed & legs crossed, gestures made with exasperation, slouching or hunching over, doodling, staring at people or avoiding eye contact, excessive fidgeting with materials, faking a smile etc. Checking the time or restind your hands behind the head or on the hips shows the listener that you are disinterested in the conversation and automatically creates a negative impression.

The use of these communicational barrier errors increases the tension and misunderstanding between the two parties.

A big barrier in interpersonal communication can also be the confidence of the speaker. This can severely limit the quality and people will lose interest. The best way to over come this barrier is to build your self up and get experience. Start by talking to smaller crowds and eventually you will feel more confident when speaking to new people and larger groups

Written Communication Barriers

What are the barriers in written communication?

- Document is not structured well
- Document contains spelling and grammar errors

Document contains spelling and grammar errors

Cultural differences are a big barrier for effective communication, even in written communication. Some people may not have the same grasp of literature, and may find it difficult to understand certain long words. It is also important for you to take into consideration the other persons beliefs as he/she may be easily offended. To attempt and avoid these complications use of short, common words that lead straight to the point is effective and practical. Jargon is best used when communicating with people local in your area, and not over seas, this is because they may not understand what it stands for or what it means, so not putting it into the written piece would be practical.

Like verbal communication, there are certain ways that you can be held back even when you try to communicate using writing. One of the most obvious is your spelling and grammar. Not only will a poorly spelt document be harder to read but the reader might think less of you for using poor spelling or grammar. This can easily be overcome by spell checking your document and proof reading it before sending. The language barrier also comes into play when dealing with written communications. If you are emailing someone who only speaks Polish, you will need to be able send the message in the language they understand as well and receive messages that you can understand. To get over this barrier, you can use translation technology. Various websites and software allow you to automatically translate text that is in a different language. This allows you to effectively communicate with a person who does not speak your language.

Another barrier is not having knowledge of the correct formalities to use when composing a written communication. This might not seem like a big deal but it can be very important for setting the tone when communicating. The best way to overcome this is to sit down and learn the proper etiquette for written communication. Learning the right salutations and good byes can make the difference especially when you want to write in a professional manner.