BARRIERS TO COMMUNICATION

1. Semantic Barrier
a. jargon and abstract words are
interpreted by different people in
diverse ways
b. it is always important to be precise
and explicit with words
2. Emotional Barrier (our most
powerful communication filter) --
always remember: senders who are
emotional or angry are perceived
differently
a. emotions can prevent receiver
from hearing what speaker has to say
b. emotional state can make listener
too susceptible to speaker’s point of
view
c. it is important to detach self from
emotions and think of the verbal
content of message
3. Psychosocial Barrier (beliefs
backed up by emotions; deeply
embedded ideas and feelings)
a. bias towards accents, ethnicity,
mannerisms, dress, demeanor,
physical characteristics can change
the way we send and receive
messages
b. receiver and/or sender bias
towards the values and opinions of
others can affect message
interpretation (abortion issue,
religious preference, gender
orientation, political viewpoints, social
perspectives)
4. Physical Barrier / Environmental
Noise
a. Make some adjustments by
asking someone to minimize the
volume or by looking for a quiet area
where you can resume the
conversation

STRATEGIES TO AVOID
COMMUNICATION BREAKDOWN
1. Send Clear Messages
2. Use Words Carefully
3. Use Repetition
4. Use Appropriate Timing
5. Develop Listening Skills
ACTIVITY 1
Direction: Below are some
examples of barriers. Classify
them by naming the specific
barrier on each blank.
1.Barking dogs
2. Limited vocabulary
3. Negative comments on
Facebook
4. Paranoia
5. Corrupt political image

ACTIVITY 2
DIRECTION: Complete the table
below by narrating one (1)
situation in your life where you
experienced being
misunderstood. It may be a
miscommunication between you
and your parents, or with your
friends, relatives and the like.
Then, identify what type of
barriers are them. In the last part
of the column, cite solutions how
you solved those problems in
communication.
Situation Barriers to Solutions
Communication
6. Doctor using specialized language
7. Thinking that poor people are
illiterate
8. Ambulance’s siren
9. Displaying intense anger during a
speech
10. Use of homonyms