Language Barriers to Communication

 Barriers to communication 

The word barrier means an obstacle, a hindrance or simply a problem that comes in a way of

 transmission of a message and blocks the process, either completely or partially. 

Language or Semantic barriers: 

Language is the main medium of communication and words are its tools. Language proves to be a barrier at diferent levels, such as semantic (meaning), syntactic (grammar), phonological (pronunciation, intonation, pitch etc.) and finally linguistic (across languages) Thus, language barriers can arise in different ways: 

a. Jargon or unfamiliar terminology  - There are some special terms or technical words used by people belonging to a certain group or field of work such as doctors, lawyers, computer software engineers or college students. They use words which are their own, specialised jargon which cannot be understood by anyone outside their group. 

b. Difference in language –  Unfamiliar language becomes a barrier when people do  not know each other‘s language. This barrier can be overcome by using a common medium of communication, as in a classroom. Translation is also an important way of overcoming this barrier.  

c. Words are of two kinds: extensional and intentional words. Extensional words are clear in their meaning and therefore do not create barriers – such as words like boy,  chair, garden etc. Intentional words are words that describe and they can be understood differently by different people, according to the meaning that a person  gives to the word. Thus good, bad, beautiful are intentional words, and a simple sentence like she is a good girl. can create confusion because the meaning of  the word ‘good’ is unclear.  

d. Barriers can be created when we come across words, which have the same sound when pronounced, but which mean very different things. Examples: words like fair and fare; bear and bare; council and counsel.