BARRIERS TO COMMUNICATION

Muhammad Usman Saeed Centre for Media & Communication Studies University of Gujrat

NOISE OR BARRIER
Communication scholars define noise as anything that interferes with the delivery of the message. A little noise might pass unnoticed, while too much noise might prevent the message from reaching the destination.

TYPES OF BARRIERS

Barriers can be classified into six types.

1)
2) 3) 4)

5)
6)

Semantic Barrier Mechanical barrier Environmental Barrier Physical Barrier Psychological Barrier Barrier involving Attitudes, Values etc

SEMANTIC BARRIER
Semantic noise occurs when different people have different meanings for different words. A basic principle of communication is that the symbols the sender uses to communicate messages must have the same meaning in both the senders and receivers minds. A symbol is a sign for something that exits in reality.

CONT
Denotation: A denotation is usually the dictionary definition of a word. Denotative meanings name objects, people or events without indicating positive or negative qualities. Connotation: A connotation is an implication of a word or a suggestion separate from the usual definition. Some words have connotative meanings, that is, qualitative judgment and personal reactions. The word man is denotative, father, prophet, brother are connotative.

TALIBAN?

Muslims are not terrorists; but all terrorists are Muslims.

MECHANICAL BARRIER
This type of noise occurs when there is a problem with a machine that is being used to assist communication. A TV set with a pixilated picture. A multimedia screen without proper connection.

ENVIRONMENTAL BARRIERS
This type refers to sources of noise that are external to the communication process but that nonetheless interfere with it. The noise at a restaurant Noise outside the classroom.

PHYSICAL BARRIERS
Communication does not consist of words alone. Another set of barriers is caused by your own physical appearance, your audience, or the context of the document or the presentation. Your ideas, however good and skillfully imparted, are at the mercy of various potential physical barriers.

PSYCHOLOGICAL BARRIERS
Emotional Barrier: One possible psychological block is emotional; you may be emotionally blocked when you are making your first presentation or writing someone you dislike. Perception barriers: The perceptual problem is that people think differently so as a result their perception of reality is different.

CONT.

We don't see things as they are, we see them as we are. Anas Nin

CONT

Frame of Reference: Different individuals interpret the same communication differently depending on their experiences. When the encoding and decoding processes are not alike, communication tends to break down.

BARRIERS INVOLVING ATTITUDES AND VALUES

A receivers attitude towards a message can determine whether it is accepted or rejected. The effectiveness is influenced also by the values, attitudes, and opinions of the communicators. People react favorably when they receive agreeable message. Fundamentalism, senders poor credibility may hinder communication process.