Table of Contents
TOC o “1-3” h z u HYPERLINK l “_Toc406688891” 1.Introduction PAGEREF _Toc406688891 h 2
HYPERLINK l “_Toc406688892” 2. Barriers to Verbal Message PAGEREF _Toc406688892 h 3
HYPERLINK l “_Toc406688893” 2.1 Cultural Barriers PAGEREF _Toc406688893 h 3
HYPERLINK l “_Toc406688894” 2.2 Stereotypes and Generalizations PAGEREF _Toc406688894 h 3
HYPERLINK l “_Toc406688895” 2.3 Lack of Clarity PAGEREF _Toc406688895 h 3
HYPERLINK l “_Toc406688896” 2.4 Jumping to conclusions PAGEREF _Toc406688896 h 4
HYPERLINK l “_Toc406688897” 2.5 Dysfunctional responses PAGEREF _Toc406688897 h 4
HYPERLINK l “_Toc406688898” 2.6 Differences in perception PAGEREF _Toc406688898 h 4
HYPERLINK l “_Toc406688899” 2.7 Incorrect filtering PAGEREF _Toc406688899 h 4
HYPERLINK l “_Toc406688900” 2.8 Language problems PAGEREF _Toc406688900 h 5
HYPERLINK l “_Toc406688901” 2.9 Other Barriers to Verbal messages PAGEREF _Toc406688901 h 5
HYPERLINK l “_Toc406688902” 2.9.1 Poor listening PAGEREF _Toc406688902 h 5
HYPERLINK l “_Toc406688903” 2.9.2 Differing emotional states PAGEREF _Toc406688903 h 6
HYPERLINK l “_Toc406688904” 3.Solution to barriers to Verbal message PAGEREF _Toc406688904 h 7
HYPERLINK l “_Toc406688905” 3.1 Practice active listening. PAGEREF _Toc406688905 h 7
HYPERLINK l “_Toc406688906” 3.2 Differing perception PAGEREF _Toc406688906 h 7
HYPERLINK l “_Toc406688907” 3.3 Difference in languages PAGEREF _Toc406688907 h 7
HYPERLINK l “_Toc406688908” Conclusion PAGEREF _Toc406688908 h 7
HYPERLINK l “_Toc406688909” References PAGEREF _Toc406688909 h 8
IntroductionVerbal communication (message) is an important part of life. People rely upon verbal communication in their interaction with families, coworkers and peers. However, verbal communication can occasionally break down or be impeded by barriers. These barriers stem from a variety of sources, whether they be from some conflict or an inability of the person to properly express what is on his mind. Understanding these barriers can be a positive step in overcoming them.
2. Barriers to Verbal Message2.1 Cultural BarriersIn an increasingly multicultural world, some of the more common barriers to effective verbal communication fall within the category of cultural barriers. Cultural barriers make it difficult for people to communicate with one another primarily because it is culture that influences how people think. According to the website devoted to the University of Nairobi training program on intractable conflict, it is these different ways of thinking that can impede communication because people of different cultures tend to see and hear the world differently. Cultural barriers can include language differences, which make it difficult to translate what is being said from one language to another. A second set of cultural barriers include the behavior constraints faced when speaking to someone of another culture. For instance, in some cultures eye contact between men and women is frowned upon; this makes non-verbal cues difficult to pick up. Emotional constraints present another cultural barrier. Emotions associated with verbal communication can be displayed differently in various cultures.
2.2 Stereotypes and GeneralizationsBoth the University of Waterloo and the Ohio State University websites note that a major barrier to effective verbal communication is the tendency of some people to speak using stereotypes and unqualified generalizations. Speaking in this way tends to destroy the credibility of the speaker and can affect clarity as well. The speaker assumes that the listener will know what he is speaking about while the listener, in fact, has no idea or even interprets the message differently. Viewing the world in simplistic or stereotypical manner can create barriers to communication because the person receiving the message can be alienated by what is said. The speaker may not realize he is offending the listener, when in fact he is.
2.3 Lack of ClarityLacking clarity is a third barrier to effective verbal communication. Speakers who do not speak precisely and clearly about their topic, whatever it may be, run the risk of confusing the receiver of the message. Your use of language may differ from someone you are speaking too, especially when it comes to slang, formal language or other non-literal ways of speaking. Bernard L. Erven at Ohio State University’s Department of Agricultural, Environmental, and Development Economics, refers to this lack of clarity as “muddled messages.” Messages that are vague and imprecise may be interpreted wrongly. The best way to be sure of your clarity is to watch for feedback from the receiver of the message to ensure that they have received your message properly.
2.4 Jumping to conclusionsConfusing facts with inferences is a common tendency. Do not assume you know the reasons behind events, or that certain facts necessarily have certain implications. Make sure you have all the information you can get, and then speak clearly about the facts versus the meanings or interpretations you attach to those.
2.5 Dysfunctional responsesIgnoring or not responding to a comment or question quickly undermines effective communication. Likewise, responding with an irrelevant comment — one that isn’t connected to the topic at hand — will quash genuine communication. Interrupting others while they are speaking also creates a poor environment for communication.
2.6 Differences in perceptionThe world constantly bombards us with information: sights, sounds, scents, and so on. Our minds organize this stream of sensation into a mental map that represents our perception or reality. In no case is the perception of a certain person the same as the world itself, and no two maps are identical. As you view the world, your mind absorbs your experiences in a unique and personal way. Because your perceptions are unique, the ideas you want to express differ from other people’s Even when two people have experienced the same event, their mental images of that event will not be identical. As senders, we choose the details that seem important and focus our attention on the most relevant and general, a process known as selective perception. As receivers, we try to fit new details into our existing pattern. If a detail doesn’t quite fit, we are inclined to distort the information rather than rearrange the pattern.
2.7 Incorrect filteringFiltering is screening out before a message is passed on to someone else. In business, the filters between you and your receiver are many; secretaries, assistants, receptionists, answering machines, etc. Those same gatekeepers may also ‘translate’ your receiver’s ideas and responses before passing them on to you. To overcome filtering barriers, try to establish more than one communication channel, eliminate as many intermediaries as possible, and decrease distortion by condensing message information to the bare essentials.
2.8 Language problemsWhen you choose the words for your message, you signal that you are a member of a particular culture or subculture and that you know the code. The nature of your code imposes its own barriers on your message. Barriers also exist because words can be interpreted in more than one way. Language is an arbitrary code that depends on shared definitions, but there’s a limit to how completely any of us share the same meaning for a given word. To overcome language barriers, use the most specific and accurate words possible. Always try to use words your audience will understand. Increase the accuracy of your messages by using language that describes rather than evaluates and by presenting observable facts, events, and circumstances.
2.9 Other Barriers to Verbal messages
2.9.1 Poor listeningPerhaps the most common barrier to reception is simply a lack of attention on the receiver’s part. We all let our minds wander now and then, regardless of how hard we try to concentrate. People are essentially likely to drift off when they are forced to listen to information that is difficult to understand or that has little direct bearing on their own lives. Too few of us simply do not listen well! To overcome barriers, paraphrase what you have understood, try to view the situation through the eyes of other speakers and resist jumping to conclusions. Clarify meaning by asking non-threatening questions, and listen without interrupting.
2.9.2 Differing emotional statesEvery message contains both a content meaning, which deals with the subject of the message, and a relationship meaning, which suggests the nature of the interaction between sender and receiver. Communication can break down when the receiver reacts negatively to either of these meanings. You may have to deal with people when they are upset or when you are. An upset person tends to ignore or distort what the other person is saying and is often unable to present feelings and ideas effectively. This is not to say that you should avoid all communication when you are emotionally involved, but you should be alert to the greater potential for misunderstanding that accompanies aroused emotions. To overcome emotional barriers, be aware of the feelings that arise in yourself and in others as you communicate, and attempt to control them. Most important, be alert to the greater potential for misunderstanding that accompanies emotional messages.
Solution to barriers to Verbal message3.1 Practice active listening.An effective strategy for improving cross-cultural communication is what experts call “active listening.” This technique involves restating the other speaker’s statements to ensure you understand their meaning and asking frequent questions. This is a great way to ensure that important information doesn’t “slip through the cracks” in a cross-cultural conversation.
3.2 Differing perceptionIn the message, we must try to explain it so that even those with different views and experiences can understand it. We may need to learn about the background of those with whom we are communicating so that we can empathize with them and see the situation from that person’s point of view.
3.3 Difference in languagesSimple direct natural language should be used. If technical or unconventional terms cannot be avoided, they should be explained. Besides, being sensitive to the situation may also help. For example, the use of simple language should be encouraged to those from different language speaking nations.
Conclusion
There are a lot of potential barriers in communication, all of which can be overcome with a discussion between a groups of people, this is what we did, and we came up with different ways in which to overcome possible drawbacks in effective communication. I have expressed the potential barriers in effective communication and their methods of overcoming them. I have listed five different possible drawbacks, which are as follows: Cultural Difference, Distractions, Incorrect spelling/grammar, Terminology, Loss of interest. Some of the methods of overcoming them are easier than others. However, some may take time, for example: learning a new language.
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