We all communicate daily with each other, and in different ways. We even do so 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 live in society. But… Is communication always a clear and fluid process? Does the message always reach its addressee(s) properly? Well, the truth is that it does not, and in this article we bring you its explanation: the barriers of communication .

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

What do we mean by communication?

Surely we all know roughly what communication consists of. When we hear this word, we surely think of people who speak to each other, who write to each other, who use words but also their bodies to express themselves, etc. 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 that allows the transmission and reception of messages (information, ideas…). Through this process, two or more people relate through messages that flow from one side to the other , through a channel (for example the air, in oral communication).

However, the communication is not always 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 the barriers of communication are operating, which are nothing more than interferences or obstacles that are produced in the same.

Now, let’s see exactly what these kinds of barriers consist of:

Communication barriers: what are they?

Communication barriers, also called interference, consist of obstacles that make it difficult to get the message across in a communicative process.

Thus, through these barriers, messages can be distorted or distorted, and not adequately reach the recipient. 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 share is that they interfere with 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 look at them:

1. Semantic barriers

The semantic barriers are related to the meaning of the words . Thus, these kinds of barriers explain why we don’t understand a word, a phrase or a speech. In other words, they make it difficult for us to understand a message or give it a 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 we, as receivers, 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

Barriers to communication can also be psychological; these have to do with the specific psychological situation of the sender or the receiver of the message. Thus, these types of barriers are also related to the emotional states of the sender and/or receiver , 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 the receiver, which can influence how we receive or interpret the message.

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

3. Physiological barriers

Another type of communication barrier is the physiological barrier. These, like all communication barriers, make it difficult or impossible for the message to be transmitted clearly and precisely, but in this case it is due to certain physiological alterations on the part of the sender or the receiver .

That is to say, if one (or even both) of them is in an altered state, at a physiological level (for example, drunk, deranged, confused, sleepy…), this will alter the transmission and/or reception of the message, which will be distorted.

4. Physical barriers

The physical barriers are perhaps the most obvious. These are all those circumstances in the context or environment that make fluid and clear communication difficult. We are talking, for example, about: noise, lack of light, excessive distance between interlocutors, problems in the media used to communicate (television, telephone, mobile 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 the 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, when the message is not being transmitted, understood or received properly . Sometimes the interferences that occur in a communicative process are subtle, and other times, 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 their frequency) of unfinished sentences, the tone of voice, the non-verbal language, the way of expressing oneself…

How can these barriers be overcome?

There are different ways of overcoming or combating communication barriers, and each person will use the technique that is most convenient or that best suits their needs, according to their context .

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

  • Always clarify the messages that are not understood before moving forward in the interaction.
  • If you do not understand a message, ask directly.
  • Use expressions that encourage clear and fluent communication (i.e. be clear and direct).
  • Empathize with the partner.
  • Practice active listening (listening carefully, looking into the eyes, asking questions…).
  • Use language according to the age of the interlocutor (e.g. children vs. adults)
  • Be consistent with what we say and how we say it (verbal and non-verbal language).
  • Don’t let prejudice get to us.
  • Take care of the environment (lighting, noise…) to facilitate communication.
  • Check/check that we are being followed when we speak.
  • Exercise control -as far as possible- of the emotions, preventing them from distorting the message.

Bibliographic references:

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