Communication between people can be complicated by different factors, even within one culture. Farnen (2017) provides several possible barriers that can emerge during the interactions, such as language, body gestures, context level, chronemics, stereotypes, and emotions. Language is the most apparent difficulty that can hinder communication even if a person has a proficient level of any foreign language when talking to a native speaker. Slang or dialect, or even the different perceptions of the same word, are the possible reasons for the misunderstandings. Body language is another crucial aspect, and the role of gestures should not be underestimated. For instance, American friendliness can be perceived as hypocrisy, whereas Germans, usually thought to be a cold nation, should not be considered something personal.
Another factor is the level of contest. The cultures are typically divided by low- and high-context cultures, namely, the first ones are more straightforward. The chronemics, or the value of time, means the subjective view of every person’s time. An example could be punctuality, which is obligatory in some states, can be considered unnecessary. Stereotypes follow from the previous dimensions, and feelings relate to the control over emotions.
Although discussing several dimensions of the intercultural barriers, this media lacks specific examples. The obstacles are clearly stated, but their actual influence on the communication and the causes of conflicts are insufficient and are not provided in every sector. Moreover, each dimension is not explicitly described. For instance, apart from deadlines and work duties mentioned in the article, the value of time includes the appropriateness of the specific behavior during a particular time. An example could be siesta in Spain and peak hours in the USA simultaneously. Another aspect that was not mentioned is the different levels of communication. Grothe (2020) identifies individual and institutional levels. Still, overall, this article presents the superficial review of the possible barriers to intercultural communication with the basic examples.
References
Farnen, K. (2017). Six Barriers to Intercultural Communication. Our Everyday Life. Web.
Grothe, T. (2020). Exploring Intercultural Communication. LibreTexts.