A Concise, Clear and Comprehensive Definition of Each Type of Barrier

Name: Cheng Tsz Yeung  Student Number: 143240        Section:2

a.) Provide a concise, clear and comprehensive definition of each type of barrier listed above.

Psychological barrier

The psychological barrier of communication is the influence of the psychological state of the communicators (sender and receiver) which creates an obstacle for effective communication. Attitude, emotion and opinion are the examples of psychological barrier.

Physiological barrier

The physiological barrier of communication occurs due to the physical condition of sender or receiver which might even be physical disabilities. Disability, blind and deaf are the examples of physiological barrier.

Physical barrier

Physical barrier is the environmental and natural conditions that act as a barrier in communication in sending message from sender to receiver. Environment and distance are the examples of the physical barrier.

Cultural barrier

Cultural barrier is that cultural diversity makes communication difficult as the mindsets of people of different cultures are different, the language, signs and symbols are also different. Also, different cultures have a different meaning of words, behaviors and gestures. These also result in the cultural barrier.

Economic barrier

Economic barrier is that message not available to a public sector organization due to lack of resources.

Linguistic barrier

Linguistic barrier is a barrier to communication between people who are unable to speak a common language. Dialects and jargon are the examples of the linguistic barrier.

Technological barrier

Technological barrier is that message is not delivered due to technical failure For example, a difference in technology used by sender and receiver and connection fail problem contributes to the technological barrier.

Organizational barrier

Organizational barrier refers to the hindrances in the flow of information among the employees that might result in a commercial failure of an organization.

b.) From the 8 communication barriers given above; list (do not elaborate) the ones, you believe, contributed to the Avianca Airline crash.

Cultural barrier, organizational barrier, linguistic barrier, psychological barrier and physical barrier contribute to the Avianca Airline crash.

c.) Explain, using specific examples, how each type of barrier that you listed above, hampered communication between the various parties.

i.) The flight crew and the control tower

Linguistic barrier

In this case, the co-pilot is Columbians and the air traffic controllers are Americans. Because they speak different language (Spanish/English), the air traffic controllers will have difficulty on listening to the co-pilot. Also, the co-pilot’s accent and choice of words also contribute to the linguistic barrier.

Cultural barrier

The copilot’s choice of words is one of the cultural barriers. For example, the co-pilot said that the aircraft was “running low on fuel” (which means an emergency in the Spanish) instead of using standard aviation terminology of the organization culture which use the “fuel emergency” to describe the situation accurately.

Also, the Columbian ranks very high on uncertainty avoidance and do not want to a make change. The crew follows the air traffic controller’s instruction as the crew does not want to take risk landing. Also, a male is dominated in the Columbia’s society. Thus, the co-pilot do not want to admit his mistakes of using the improper word in order to save face, he does not use the correct word “emergency” to describe the serious situation to the air traffic controller.

Organizational barrier

The co-pilot may choose the word “ running low on fuel” to his benefit. If he uses a formal wording “ fuel emergency” to describe the situation, he may have a lot of paperwork.

Also, the co-pilot always follows all the instruction or direction of the air traffic controller. It is because the air traffic controller has more power or authority than the crew. However, the air traffic controller does not know the actual situation and how emergency the situation is.

ii.) Between the individual members of the flight crew

Psychological barrier

Emotion is one of the communication barriers. It has a different meaning to interpret what the co-pilot say based on the co-pilot’s emotion state. For example, the co-pilot’s tone does not convey the severity of the fuel problem as his voice is cool and professional.