WRTG 394 students, Your first writing assignment will be a report on communication inhibitors in

WRTG 394 students,
Your first writing assignment will be a report on communication inhibitors in your workplace or community.
Please note that your final paper in WRTG 394 is a research-based report. The work you do for this first writing assignment might lead to an excellent topic on which to write your final paper.
For this assignment, you are asked to collect real-life examples of barriers (inhibitors) to communication that occur in your work or community environment. The examples of communication barriers that you collect can be from documents, conversations (face-to-face or digital), email messages, or meetings.
This assignment consists of four parts:
Part I:
During the first week of this course, collect real-life examples of barriers (inhibitors) to written and verbal communication occurring in your work environment. The communications you collect can be from documents, conversations (face-to-face or digital), emails, or meetings.
Then write one or two paragraphs of 100-125 words describing your workplace or community setting you are analyzing, the types of communication in that setting that you are describing, and other details you think might be relevant to the context.
Types of communication inhibitors and examples of them can be found in the four articles that are available to you through eReserves. These communication barriers include but are not limited to:
connotative meanings of words personal censors and filters
noise (real and semantic)
audience expectations communication structure (or lack of) direction of communication
physical barriers cultural barriers experiential barriers perceptual barriers motivational barriers emotional barriers organizational barriers
linguistic barriers
nonverbal barriers
competitive barriers
lack of writing purpose, organization, support or clarity
artificial voice
forced collaboration faulty level of technicality faulty level of formality faulty direction
poor timing
excessive subjectivity
Part II:
After you’ve collected at least 5-10 communication samples, identify the inhibitors they represent and define the inhibitors in a bulleted list. The definition you provide should identify the general characteristics of the inhibitor and how it works to impede communication. The definitions should not reference your specific work environment.
Please consult the video on this assignment to see a demonstration on how this part might be written.
Part III:
Analyze the communication samples you have collected in a table with three columns:

1. the communication example either as a direct quote or paraphrase 2. the name of the inhibitor(s) at work in the sample
2. a justification of your selection of the inhibitor(s)
   Part IV:
   Using a scale of 1 to 100, rank your organization’s communication effectiveness. Justify and explain the score you award.
   Reading Material to Draw Upon for this Assignment:
   For this assignment, you will want to draw on the following reading materials about communication inhibitors.
   • “10 Barriers to Communication”
   • “Communication Barriers”
   • “Physical Barriers in Communication”
   • “The Barriers to Effective Communication”
   The items are available as eReserves in our class in LEO.
   You can access the articles by taking the following steps:
   • click Content
   • select Class Resources
   • select eReserves
   • select the icon for eReserves in the middle of your page.
   • in the list of items that appears, locate the articles and download them
   Format:
   Your text should be single-spaced.
   The following page has a template you may use in completing this assignment.
   Description of community setting:
   Definitions of inhibitors:
   The communication example either as a direct quote or paraphrase The name of the inhibitor(s) that the example represents A justification of your selection of the inhibitor

Short paragraph rating the organization’s communication effectiveness on a scale of 1 to 100 and justifying the ranking:

I work in the health care field and need this in relation to that type of field.

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The Barriers to Effective Communication
By Rupal Jain
D.E. McFarland has defined Communication as the process of meaningful interaction among human beings. More specifically, it is the process by which meanings are perceived and understandings are reached among human being. But there may be some faults /barriers in the communication system that prevents the message from reaching the receiver, these barriers are as follows:-

1. Language Barrier; – Different languages, vocabulary, accent, dialect represents a national/ regional barriers. Semantic gaps are words having similar pronunciation but multiple meanings like- round; badly expressed message, wrong interpretation and unqualified assumptions. The use of difficult or inappropriate words/ poorly explained or misunderstood messages can result in confusion.
2. Cultural Barriers: – Age, education, gender, social status, economic position, cultural background, temperament, health, beauty, popularity, religion, political belief, ethics, values, motives, assumptions, aspirations, rules/regulations, standards, priorities can separate one person from another and create a barrier.
3. Individual Barrier: – It may be a result of an individual’s perceptual and personal discomfort. Even when two persons have experienced the same event their mental perception may/may not be identical which acts as a barrier. Style, selective perception, halo effect, poor attention and retention, defensiveness, close mindedness, insufficient filtration are the Individual or Psychological barrier.
4. Organizational Barrier: – It includes Poor Organization’s culture, climate, stringent rules, regulations, status, relationship, complexity, inadequate facilities/ opportunities of growth and improvement; whereas; the nature of the internal and external environment like large working areas physically separated from others, poor lightening, staff shortage, outdated equipments and background noise are Physical Organizational Barrier.
5. Interpersonal Barrier: – Barriers from Employers are :- Lack of Trust in employees; Lack of Knowledge of non-verbal clues like facial expression, body language, gestures, postures, eye contact; different experiences; shortage of time for employees; no consideration for employee needs; wish to capture authority; fear of losing power of control; bypassing and informational overloading, while Barriers from Employees includes Lack of Motivation, lack of co-operation, trust, fear of penalty and poor relationship with the employer.
6. Attitudinal Barrier: – It comes about as a result of problems with staff in the organisation. Limitation in physical and mental ability, intelligence, understanding, pre-conceived notions, and distrusted source divides the attention and create a mechanical barrier which affects the attitude and opinion.
   
7. Channel Barrier: – If the length of the communication is long, or the medium selected is inappropriate, the communication might break up; it can also be a result of the inter-personal conflicts between the sender and receiver; lack of interest to communicate; information sharing or access problems which can hamper the channel and affect the clarity, accuracy and effectiveness.
   To communicate effectively one need to overcome these barriers. Working on breaking the barrier is a broad-brush activity and here are certain measures.
   DO’S FOR BREAKING THE BARRIER:

• Allow employees access to resources, self expression and idea generation. – Express your expectations to others.
• Use less of absolute words such as “never”, “always”, “forever”, etc.
• Be a good, attentive and active listener.
• Filter the information correctly before passing on to someone else.
• Try to establish one communication channel and eliminate the intermediaries.
• Use specific and accurate words which audiences can easily understand.
• Try and view the situations through the eyes of the speaker.
• The “you” attitude must be used on all occasions.
• Maintain eye contact with the speaker and make him comfortable.
• Write the instructions if the information is very detailed or complicated.
• Oral communication must be clear and not heavily accented.
• Avoid miscommunication of words and semantic noise.
• Ask for clarifications, repetition where necessary.
• Make the organisational structure more flexible, dynamic and transparent.
• Foster congenial relationship which strengths coordination between superior and subordinate. – Focus on purposeful and well focused communication.
• The message of communication should be clear and practical.
• Get Proper Feedback.
  DONT’S FOR BREAKING THE BARRIER:
• Be a Selective Listener, this is when a person hears another but selects not to hear what is being said by choice or desire to hear some other message.
• Be a “Fixer”, a fixer is a person that tries to find other person’s fault.
• Be a daydreamer.
• Use long chain of command for communication.
• Use too many technical jargons.
• Jump to conclusions immediately.
• Interrupt the speakers and distract him by asking too many irrelevant questions.
  RUPAL JAIN, LECTURER, ATHARVA INSTITUTE OF MANAGEMENT STUDIES (MUMBAI) and I can be reached at jainrupal@sify.com
  Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rupal_Jain

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Physical Barriers in Communication
There are different types of barriers that can pose challenges to effective communication. In this article, we will take a look at the physical barriers in communication.
Communication is one of the most effective ways of expressing our thoughts and emotions. Communication can be verbal or non-verbal. Both these forms of communication are important in ensuring that we are able to put across our message clearly. However, there are times when there might be some hindrances to communication, which can mar its effectiveness, resulting in miscommunication or lack of clarity. Researchers have studied the various forms of barriers to effective communication, let us take a look at these.
Physical Communication Barriers
There are a host of physical factors that can prevent individuals from having an effective communication. Physical barriers relate to disturbance in the immediate milieu which can interfere in the course of an effective communication. Let us take a look at some physical factors to communication.
Environment
Some barriers are due to the existing environment. If you are standing in adverse weather conditions, your conversation would be hampered because you would not be able to pay full attention to what the other person is saying. The ambiance in which you are having a conversation also plays an important part in the quality of a conversation. If the place is too noisy, or two crowded, you may not be able to clearly listen to the speaker. For example, if you are having a conversation with someone along the roadside, the honks and noise of the passing vehicles can make it difficult for you to concentrate on what you are saying, apart from interfering in effective listening. Similarly, if you are talking to someone in scorching heat, then the physical discomfort can easily cause you to be disinterested in the conversation.
Distance
Distance also plays an important part in determining the course of a conversation. For example, if the staff in an organization are made to sit in different buildings or different floors, they might have to substitute face to face communication with phone calls or emails. This prevents the

employees to have effective communication with each other. For example, if a manager and his subordinate are seated at different buildings of an organization, then the manager may have to give out instructions over the phone or over the email, which can sometimes lead to a lack of effective communication.
Ignorance of Medium
Communication also includes using signs and symbols to convey a feeling or a thought. However, if there is a lack of ignorance about the medium in which sender is sending the message, the conversation can be hampered. For example, the use of signs to communicate can be seen in games like soccer and hockey, where players do not want each other to know about their plans and may converse through codes and signs. However, if a member of a team is not acquainted with these signs, it can lead to a lack of communication.
Physical Disability
Physical disability can also prove to be a barrier for effective communication. People with physical disabilities generally are at a disadvantage when it comes to gaining employment. Disabled people have been marginalized through ages, and this can cause them to have a low self-esteem and social anxiety. It can cause a physically challenged person to have face difficulties in self-disclosure and can hamper his interpersonal skills.
Other Types of Barriers in Communication
Perceptual Barrier
Perceptual barrier has got to do with the prejudice that most of us tend to form before meeting an individual. If we form a prejudice about someone, then we may not be able to have an effective communication with the person.
Emotional Barrier
Emotions can play an important part in any conversation. Have you ever noticed that your voice acquires an aggressiveness when you are speaking on an issue you feel strongly about. Emotional barriers can cause interruptions in conversation, apart from making the speakers to form unfair assumptions about each other.
Cultural Barrier
Cultural barrier is one of the widely seen barrier in communication. Ignorance about each other’s cultures may make us skeptic and we may shy away from expressing ourselves freely.
Linguistic Barrier
Linguistic barriers also affect a conversation and this is not limited to difference in people’s first language. English, which is one of the widely spoken languages of the world is spoken differently in England, America, Australia, South Africa etc. This can cause lack of understanding and confusion.
These were some types of physical barriers that can prove detrimental to effective communication. It is important that these barriers are recognized and corrective steps are taken to prevent or reduce their impact on communication. In the end, we hope that this article would

have helped you in getting some information about physical barriers to communication apart from helping you to get a gist on the other types of barriers to effective communication.
By Rahul Pandita
Published: 6/27/2011