Communication Breakdowns: Prepared By: Ms. Cathlene Mae R. Sanglay

COMMUNICATION
BREAKDOWNS
Prepared by: Ms. Cathlene Mae R. Sanglay
 Communication breakdown is failure in
communication due to different barriers in
communication. These barriers may be related to:
source, message, medium and the receiver. There
are very many possible causes of communication
breakdown at different levels.

Communication Process
S M C R
SENDER MESSAGE CHANNEL / RECEIVER

MEDIUM

A. SOURCE/SENDER:
 Perception is generally how each individual interprets the world
around him or her. All generally want to receive messages which are
significant to them. But any message which is against their values is
not accepted. A same event may be taken differently by different
individuals. So, if the sender does not consider the perception of the
receiver, there can easily be a communication break down because of
this difference in perception.

 Language choice (Diction) - The linguistic differences also lead to
communication breakdown. Some words may mean different things to
different individuals. Depending on how it is used, it can easily be
misinterpreted by the receiver. So, the sender must take great care
not to use words that may mean something else to the receiver.
 Offensive Communication - If the encoder sends a message in such a
way that the decoder become defensive or feels offensive, their
relations get strained and communication suffers. Hence it is
absolutely necessary for the sender to adopt a persuasive style of
communication.
 Frame of reference - This is the way an individual mind is shaped by his
or her culture, education, age, gender, background beliefs and others.
This can lead to communication breakdown if the sender or the encoder
does not consider his frame of reference and that of the receiver. The
sender`s frame of reference may not be the same as that of the
receiver hence affecting the way the communication is to be effected.
 Emotions - play a very important role in our life. Both encoding and
decoding of messages are influenced by our emotions. A message
received when we are emotionally worked up will have a different
meaning for us than when we are calm and composed. Anger is the
worst emotion and enemy of communication. Communicating under a
very strong emotion of anger, may lead to communication breakdown as
our message may not be received with respect it deserves.
 Status-consciousness - The attitudes and opinions, place in
society and status-consciousness arising from one’s position in the
hierarchical structure of the organization. Status consciousness is
widely known to be a serious communication barrier in
organizations. It leads to psychological distancing which further
leads to breakdown of communication or miscommunication.
 Sending Irrelevant Information - Workplace communication needs

to be targeted for it to be effective. When receivers get a bunch
of information that doesn’t apply, they simply tune off. This is a
big problem when that information is necessary for receivers to
effectively complete the task at hand. This may lead to
communication breakdown.
B. Message
 Lengthy or disorganized message - People prefer short and
organized messages. Lengthy and disorganized messages
usually put people off track and many people will lose
interest in such messages. This can surely lead to
communication breakdown and disinterestedness in the
message sent.
 Complex or ambiguous language - Clarity of the message is
very vital in any communication. But if the message is
unclear and complex or even ambiguous in nature, the
receiver is most likely to be confused.
 Inconsistent body language - In non-verbal
communication where sometimes the body language is
used to convey a message, there is need for consistency
in that body language for the message to be taken
properly. If there is inconsistency, it is true that the
message can be taken out of proportion and context,
hence leading to communication breakdown.
 Noise obstruction - Noise refers to distortion in any
communication process. Noise can take different forms
like; physical noise that is created by physical factors,
misspelling, bad pronunciations.
C. Medium
 Loss by Transmission - In most cases, when message is
transmitted this way, communication breakdown occurs
because by the time the message reaches the intended
receiver, the meaning is lost. Special care has to be taken that
the intended message reaches the person concerned.
 Poor handwriting - When the communicator chooses to write
down his message, there is likelihood that communication can
easily breakdown especially when the handwriting of the
sender is poor. In the same vein, care must be taken when
writing down the intended communication.
 Poor communication gadgets - Many factors have to be
considered when choosing a system for communication.
It is generally agreed that poor communication gadgets
(address system) can hinder communication. Care must
be taken in the choice of communication system in
order to enhance but not breakdown communication.
D. RECEIVER
 Semantic Problems - Semantics is the systematic study of

meaning. Oral or written communication is based on words.
Communications breakdown if the meaning in the sender`s mind
does not correspond to the meaning in the receiver`s mind.
 Emotions - play a very important role in our life. A message

received when we are emotionally worked up will have a different
meaning for us than when we are calm and composed. Anger is the
worst emotion and enemy of communication. A message received
under strong emotion can easily lead to communication
breakdown.
 Noise - Noise is the first and foremost barrier to
communication. It means “interference that occurs in a signal
and prevents you from hearing sounds properly. Adverse
weather conditions or some fault in the ultramodern
telecommunication systems may also spoil the effect. Hence,
communication breakdown.
 Physical disability - When oral communication is used and the

receiver has a physical disability or challenge especially in
hearing, the communication is not taken or understood. Every
communicator must take into consideration the status of the
receiver. This will help in knowing what type of communication
is appropriate for the receiver.
 Information Overload - Information overload occurs
when the information processing demands on an
individual’s time to perform interactions and internal
calculations exceed the supply or capacity of time
available for such processing.
 Poor Listening - Poor listening accounts for incomplete
information and also poor retention. One may simply not
get the desired result if this keeps on happening.

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COMMUNICATION

communication due to different barriers in

communication. These barriers may be related to:

source, message, medium and the receiver. There

are very many possible causes of communication

breakdown at different levels.

SENDER MESSAGE CHANNEL / RECEIVER

 Perception is generally how each individual interprets the world

significant to them. But any message which is against their values is

not accepted. A same event may be taken differently by different

receiver, there can easily be a communication break down because of

this difference in perception.

communication breakdown. Some words may mean different things to

different individuals. Depending on how it is used, it can easily be

 Offensive Communication - If the encoder sends a message in such a

way that the decoder become defensive or feels offensive, their

relations get strained and communication suffers. Hence it is

absolutely necessary for the sender to adopt a persuasive style of

 Sending Irrelevant Information - Workplace communication needs

 Semantic Problems - Semantics is the systematic study of

 Emotions - play a very important role in our life. A message

 Physical disability - When oral communication is used and the

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