Barriers to communication - causes of barriers to communication and ways of overcoming them.

1. Communication Skill
Barriers to
communication
M.Vijayalakshmi
Assistant Professor

2. Unit – 1 :
Principles of Communication
1.1 Communication - Definition and concept - Theories
of communication - communication cycle.
1.2 Barriers to communication - causes of barriers to
communication and ways of overcoming them.
1.3 A four-fold analysis of Communication skills - Skill of
Listening, Speaking, Reading and writing.
1.4 Values of Communication skills in the modern
context - Visual and Multimedia Communication.
1.5 Importance of Communication skills for teachers -
Communication in the classroom - Teaching as
communication.

3. Unit – 1 :
Principles of Communication
1.2 Barriers to communication –
Causes of barriers to communication
and
Ways of overcoming them.

4. Process of Communication
Communication
Media
Receiver
Communication
Media
Sources of
Communication

5. Process of Communication
• The source of communication or sender of
the message
• Contents of communication or message
• Media or channel of communication
• The Receiver of the communication
• Response material or Feed back
• Facilitators or Barriers of communication
- Internal barriers of Communication
- External barriers of Communication

7. Barriers to Effective Communication
• The process of communication is not
always smooth
• It is obstructed by many obstacles or
hindrances
• These are referred to as barriers of
communication

8. • It refers to those factors which
cause disturbance either in the
mind of the communication or the
communicatee or in the process,
which will create distortion of the
message, leading to lack or
response, ignorance or
misunderstanding.

9. • Barriers to communication can occur if
the recipient has failed to convey the
meaning or / and the importance of the
message.
• Sender breakdown – too much
information is being sent, so the
recipient misses key points. Also,
language can be difficult to understand,
as it can be too complex.

10. • Method breakdown – when information
is very detailed or complicated, then
written instructions are better than
messages which can be misinterpreted.
• Recipient breakdown – the recipient
deliberately makes a choice to
misinterpret the message because of
their attitude to either the sender to the
message at hand.

13. Internal barriers of Communication
• Poor physical health or illness
• Poor previous knowledge and general
knowledge
• Poor mental health and improper
psychological make up
• Handicapped in understanding the symbolic
expression, verbalism and graphical
representation etc

14. External barriers of Communication
• Noise and other similar distracters
• Polluted environment
• Invisibility
• Environmental and physical discomfort
• Improper functioning of the communication
channels
• The non-cooperation or rivalries and
competitions among the participants
• Lack of proper motivation , incentives, zeal
and enthusiasm – sender and receiver

15. Barriers….
• Code or language
• Vocabulary
• Culture and background knowledge
• Pronunciation
• Ineffective Communication
• Inaccurate Translation
• Inattention

16. • Loss in Transmission
• Vague and unclarified Assumptions
• Fear
• Noise Distance and Time
• Impression

17. Effects of Barriers on Communication
• Barriers are hindrances which are destructive
when one or more persons are interacting
• They tend to diminish the others self-esteem
• They tend to trigger our defensiveness,
resistance and resentment
• Barriers often lead to dependency,
withdrawl, feelings of defeat or of
inadequacy

18. • They act as feeling blockers and reduce
the likelihood of finding a solution
• They could ultimately lead to the
souring of relationships
• They could lead to increasing the
emotional distance between the people
communicating

20. Physical
Barriers
Environmental, Invisibility/Distance,
Noise, Physical discomfort & ill health,
Distraction, Improper time
Language
Barriers
Verbalism, verbosity, language
inadequacy, unclear graphics and
symbols
Psychological
Barriers
Selective perception, disinterest,
inattention, lack of motivation, poor
concentration, redundancy,
unrewarding experience, unfulfilled
curiosity, anxiety, stress, emotions,
prejudice, egoistic attitude, biased
evaluation

21. Background
Barriers
Previous experiences,
knowledge inadequate, cultural
disparities, generation gap
Organizational
Barriers
Rules and regulations,
Hierarchical relationship, choice
of media, lack of co-operation
among communicators,
indiscipline, group size

22. Physical Barriers
• Environmental
• Invisibility/Distance
• Noise
• Physical discomfort & ill health
• Distraction
• Improper time

23. Language Barriers
• Verbalism
• Verbosity
• Language inadequacy
• Unclear graphics and symbols

24. Psychological Barriers
• Selective perception
• Disinterest
• Inattention
• Lack of motivation
• Poor concentration
• Redundancy
• Unrewarding experience
• Unfulfilled curiosity
• Anxiety
• Stress
• Emotions
• Prejudice
• Egoistic attitude
• Biased evaluation

25. Background Barriers
• Previous experiences
• Knowledge inadequate
• Cultural disparities
• Generation gap

26. Organizational Barriers
• Rules and regulations
• Hierarchical relationship
• Choice of media
• Lack of co-operation among
communicators
• Indiscipline
• Group size

27. Barriers Specific to
Classroom Communication
• Advising
• Criticizing
• Diagnosing
• Diverting
• Excessive – Inappropriate Questioning
• Logical Argument

28. • Moralizing
• Name calling
• Ordering
• Praising
• Reassuring
• Threatening

29. Causes of barriers to communication
• Noise
• Lack of Planning
• Semantic Problems
• Cultural Barriers
• Wrong Assumptions
• Socio-psychological Barriers
• Emotions
• Selective Perception

30. • Filtering
• Information Overload
• Poor Retention
• Poor Listening
• Goal Conflicts
• Offensive Style of Communication
• Insufficient Period for Adjustment
• Loss by Transmission

31. Ways to overcome
Barriers to Communication

32. To Overcome Physical Barriers
• The environment should be conducive to
communication
• Provision for proper seating arrangement
should be made
• One should ensure proper audibility and
visibility
• One should take appropriate measures for
reduction / removal of noise causing factors
• Proper attention must be paid to keep the
receivers in comfort

33. To Overcome Language Barriers
• The sender must use simple language and
reduce verbalism
• The new graphic symbols used must be
explained
• To reduce dependence on spoken words,
visual aids must be put into use
• One should obtain feedback as frequently as
possible
• Prepare handouts, recommend books and
use written communication whenever
required

34. To Overcome Psychological Barriers
• Efforts to motivate sustain interest and
provide rewarding experiences must be made
• Guidance and counseling to remove
prejudices and ill feelings must be
undertaken
• One must provide assistance, show sympathy
and deal patiently
• To increase perception audiovisual aids can
be used

35. To Overcome Background Barriers
• One must assess the learner’s
background
• The communicator must keep in
tune with the latest trends and try
to adjust with the younger
generation

36. To Overcome Organizational Barriers
• Efforts must be made to develop a
healthy conducive atmosphere among
the communicators and between
communicator and receiver
• Depending on group size appropriate
media needs to be employed to reach
out to all

37. Sources are taken from
•Slideshare.net
•Web sources