Different scholars have defined communication in different ways. Webster, 1828 defines communication as “information that is shared between people through common symbols, signs, and behaviour.” You can also call it secret languages or codes. Communication barriers occur when two parties cannot receive or understand messages that have been sent using different media such as ideas, information, or thoughts. Cross-cultural differences can often cause communication barriers. The world of today is a global village. No nation, group, culture or country can be anonymous. It is difficult for different cultures to understand each other’s viewpoints at work and in business. It could also be described as cultured behaviours. This refers to the totality of an individual’s learned and acquired experiences that are socially transmitted. Webster, 1828 defines culture as the social and cultural norms, beliefs, and traits that are common to a particular racial, religious or social group. We will be discussing the major barriers that prevent communication between cultures and languages. These barriers include language.

It is important to be able to communicate effectively with colleagues or individuals within an organisation. We are able to recognize the differences in communication styles. Language barriers occur when people speak different languages or have different skills in a specific language. The same language can cause barriers. This could be due to inappropriate language or slang. We often avoid speaking with foreigners because we don’t understand their accents or language. A heavy English accent may make it difficult for an Asian to communicate with an Australian. Language differences can hinder intercultural communication in written, verbal and oral communication. Multilateral businesses can find it difficult to convince one another verbally if there are different dialects. It is possible to take longer to become familiar with a top-of-the-line dialect. The long-term is a time-consuming task that requires serious thought. Most institutions are not equipped to give people the tools they need to improve their skills in a particular dialect. When a man or a woman needs to use another language to get to another country, or to collaborate with another person, issues can arise. Problems in their knowledge can grow if they aren’t as familiar with their native language or aren’t as proficient as they should be. Eye contact is, for example, a sign that someone is honest and vigilant in the United States. Hispanic cultures use eye contact to show understanding, but it’s often not used as a sign for authority. A translator is not always the best option in commercial situations. In contrast, an interpreter uses spoken words to communicate with clients. Both an interpreter or a translator communicate the meanings of different languages to one another.

Written communication refers to a formal writing, such as circulars, letters, critiques and memos. Telegrams are also a form of written communication. Written communication is documents that are suitable for a particular lifestyle or culture. There may be differences in the content and style of written authoritative communications. A coordinated approach may be desired in some societies. Others prefer respectful phrases that are not too related to the message’s main purpose. A courteous phrase that is not directly related to the message or its purpose may also be used.

Nonverbal communication is an important way to communicate across cultures. It is necessary to familiarize yourself with both “High-context” cultures and “Low Context” cultures. This is what context means.

It is important to know the contexts in which these ideas or events are occurring. High-context societies rely heavily upon nonverbal communication. This is because they use their interactions to meet their needs. “Low context” societies rely on words and social records. According to Korea Times the gesture of waving one’s hand vertically while the palm faces outward can be taken to signify ‘goodbye’ to Americans but may not mean ‘come here’ to Koreans.

Stereotype refers to a way of painting a picture of a whole culture, or assuming that all people in the same culture have the same dispositions. Samovar & Porter (1991), describe stereotypes as second-hand beliefs that are too generalized and do not fit the context. Stereotype is a belief about something held by a particular group. It is often bad. Stereotype can be defined as the combination of race, gender, age, religion, and ethnicity. One example is that Muslims are considered violent people by faith while Bembas in Zambia are considered crooks. Because it encourages prejudice against certain cultures, negative stereotyping can cause prejudice. Humans will see others as bad and start treating them badly.

Media has a function in societies. They encourage prejudices between amazing organizations of cultures. Stereotyping can also lead to boundaries in verbal exchange. People from fragile religions and backgrounds may be unable to communicate with one another. Some people can be stubborn speakers with people of great religions. Usually, convictions have an effect on the way you view them.

Different religions are followed by different cultures and societies. Stereotypes and ethnocentrism are related to religious background. People who adhere to a particular religion may think that all religions are bad. Stereotyping and prejudices between cultures can result because these people are judged based upon their religion. Ethniccentrism is a result of this behavior. Religion can create an intercultural barrier. Because people are unable to understand the religion of another group, they will not be able to communicate their hate to the next generation. People of the same religion create a stereotype that makes it seem bad and then they judge others. The Christians of Pakistan are required to defend their rights, as most Muslims consider Christians to be part of the Islamic majority.

Societies can be negatively affected by intercultural barriers. These barriers can lead to divisions, miscommunication, hatred, and people failing to communicate with each other. Ethnocentrism can be a barrier to communication. This is because people are prone to group themselves according to their religion and culture. The grouping of people as “Us” means that they are more superior than their friends who call themselves “them”. The group that is less wealthy and evil in society is called “evil” The group’s culture is considered to be good if they share the same values as each other. If it is different, it can be bad. Ethnocentrism, which can be described as “bad”, affects how people receive information and messages. Hateful messages will cause people to misunderstand each other, which can make it difficult for them to communicate.

Personal space conflicts can also be a barrier to communication. Different people may have different views of personal space. Personal space conflict can be a barrier to cross-cultural communication (Ravichandran. There are places that are more populated than others. People don’t mind being in close proximity in high-population areas like India or China, for example.

They travel and take buses and trains which are overcrowded. For them, life continues. But if we look at other countries like the USA or Canada, where there is less population, it’s clear that people value personal privacy. Americans value privacy and feel that close contact with strangers is a negative thing. It is imperative to ensure that you avoid cultural barriers when dealing with peoples from other regions.

Cites

Communication, (2019). Merriam Webster’s Online Dictionary. Retrieved from https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/communication

Context, (n.d.). Retrieved (February 20, 2019,). From https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/context

Culture, (2019). Culture. Merriam Webster’s Online Dictionary. Retrieved from https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/culture

Rampur, S. (March 2, 2018). Accent and language Effective communication requires you to identify cultural barriers. Retrieved from https://socialmettle.com/cultural-barriers-to-effective-communication

Ravichandran, T. (n.d). Cross-cultural communication. Retrieved from https://nptel.ac.in/courses/109104030/Module11/Lecture35.pdf

Samovar L.A. (1997). Intercultural Communication. Wadsworth Publishing Company.