The 5 barriers to communication, explained

These communication barriers interfere with the way we relate to each other.

We all communicate with other people on a daily basis, and in different ways. We do so even in the absence of spoken language (think, for example, of some children with autism, who use alternative communication systems).

Through communication we express ideas, feelings, desires, emotions... that is why it is essential to coexist in society. But... Is communication always a clear and fluid process, and does the message always reach its addressee(s) properly? Well, the truth is that it doesn't, and in this article we bring you its explanation: communication barriers.

Here we will see what they are, what types exist, how they can alter the transmission of a message, how to detect them and how to combat them.

What do we understand by communication?

Surely we all know roughly what communication consists of. When we hear this word, we surely think of people who talk to each other, who write to each other, who use words but also the body to express themselves, and so on. In other words, we imagine a more or less fluid conversation and the exchange of ideas that takes place through it.

In more technical terms, we can say that communication is the process of transmitting and receiving messages (information, ideas...). Through this process two or more people relate to each other through messages that flow from one side to the other, through a channel (through a channel).through a channel (for example, the air, in oral communication).

However, communication does not always result in something fluid, clear and precise, but many times the message is distorted or deformed, not reaching the receiver properly (or directly not being transmitted properly from the sender). When this happens, it means that communication barriers are operating, which are nothing more than interferences or obstacles that occur in communication.

Now let's see exactly what these barriers consist of:

Communication barriers: what are they?

Communication barriers, also known as interferences, consist of obstacles that hinder the arrival of the message in a communicative process.

Thus, through these barriers, messages may be distorted or distorted, and may not reach the addressee adequately. These barriers are located between the sender and the receiver of the message.

On the other hand, communication barriers can be of different types, as we will see below. However, although they have different characteristics, what they all have in common is that they interfere with the correct transmission or arrival of the message, what they all have in common is that they interfere in the correct transmission or arrival of the message..

The result is, as we have seen, a fragmented message (partially or totally), distorted, incongruent, meaningless, altered or deformed.

Types

There are different types of communication barriers, depending on their characteristics. Let's take a look at them:

1. semantic barriers

Semantic barriers are related to the meaning of words. Thus, this type of barriers explain why we do not understand a word, a sentence or a speech. In other words, they make it difficult for us to understand a message or give it meaning. Thus, they would act when, for example, the receiver does not correctly interpret the message transmitted by the sender.

On the other hand, if as receivers, we use a word with a meaning that does not really correspond to it, we are producing a semantic barrier; this specific case is called "change of meaning".

2. Psychological barriers

Communication barriers can also be psychological; these have to do with the specific psychological situation of the sender or receiver of the message. Thus, these types of barriers are also related to the specific psychological situation of the sender or receiver of the message, these types of barriers are also related to the emotional states of the sender and/or receiver, which can alter the message.which can alter the message.

On the other hand, they also have to do with the sympathy or rejection we have for the sender or receiver, which can influence how we receive or interpret the message.

Finally, prejudices also play a causal role in this type of communication barriers, as they influence how we see others and how their message reaches us.

3. Physiological barriers

Another type of communication barriers are physiological barriers. These, like all communication barriers, make it difficult or impossible for the message to be transmitted clearly and accurately, but in this case they are caused by certain physiological alterations on the part of either the sender or the receiver..

That is, if one of them (or even both) is in an altered state, at a physiological level (e.g. drunk, upset, confused, drowsy...), this will alter the emission and/or reception of the message, which will be distorted.

4. Physical barriers

Physical barriers are perhaps the most obvious. They are all those circumstances of the context or environment that hinder a fluid and clear communication. We are talking, for example, about: noise, lack of light, excessive distance between interlocutors, problems in the means used to communicate (television, telephone, cell phone...), etc.

5. Administrative barriers

Administrative barriers are those that have to do with the channels through which the message is transmitted in a communicative process, as well as with organizational structures or planning in a communicative act..

To give us a clearer idea, it would be, for example: information overload, loss of information, lack of planning, semantic distortions, impersonal communication?

How to detect communication barriers?

It is not always easy to detect when communication is being altered or distorted. That is to say, when the message is not being transmitted, understood or received properly.. Sometimes the interferences that occur in a communicative process are subtle, and sometimes they are more evident.

Some elements that we can take into account when detecting these barriers are: the frequency of silences in the communicative act, the appearance or not (and its frequency) of unfinished sentences, the tone of voice, the non-verbal language, the way of expressing oneself...

How to overcome these barriers?

There are different ways of overcoming or combating communication barriers, and each person will use the technique that best suits him or her or what he or she needs, depending on his or her context..

The ideas that you will see below can be applied whether we are senders or receivers of the message (each technique will be implemented at the appropriate time), are:

• Always clarify messages that are not understood before moving forward in the interaction.
• In case of not understanding a message, ask directly.
• Use expressions that promote clear and fluid communication (i.e., be clear and direct).
• Empathize with the interlocutor.
• Practice active listening (listening attentively, looking into the eyes, asking questions...).
• Use language according to the age of the interlocutor (e.g. children vs. adults).
• Be congruent with what we say and how we say it (verbal and non-verbal language).
• Do not let prejudices affect us.
• Take care of the environment (lighting, noise...) to facilitate communication.
• Check/verify that we are being followed when we speak.
• Exercise control -within the possible- of emotions, avoiding that these distort the message.

Bibliographical references:

• De Gasperin, R. (2005) Comunicación y relaciones humanas. Xalapa, Mexico: Universidad Veracruzana, pp. 95-135.
• Francois, F. (1973). El lenguaje, la comunicación. Buenos Aires, Ediciones Nueva Visión.
• Pasquali, A. (1990): Comprender la comunicación. Caracas: Monte Avila.