During a public hearing on rural land acquisition for a highway expansion project, a Revenue Divisional Officer explains compensation calculation procedures to local land owners using specialized legal jargon and complex statutory phrasing such as 'statutory easement' and 'ultra vires determination'. Although the acoustic setup in the village hall is perfect and the officer maintains a polite, calm demeanor, the land owners are unable to grasp how their land valuation was computed and leave the session frustrated. Which category of communication barrier is primarily responsible for the failure to convey the message effectively in this administrative scenario?
- Semantic barrier, because the sender's reliance on technical legal terminology created a breakdown in shared language and mutual understanding.Answer
- BPhysical barrier, because environmental noise and mechanical channel disturbances prevented accurate reception of the spoken words.
- CParalinguistic barrier, because improper vocal pitch, rapid tempo, and inappropriate intonation obscured the speaker's core message.
- DAggressive behavioral barrier, because hostile tone and intimidating interpersonal posture provoked defensive resistance among the listeners.
Answer
Semantic barrier, because the sender's reliance on technical legal terminology created a breakdown in shared language and mutual understanding.
The communication breakdown occurs because the sender uses specialized legal phrasing ('statutory easement', 'ultra vires determination') that lacks shared meaning for the receiving audience. This represents a semantic barrier, where language framing or technical jargon prevents effective message decoding.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
Semantic Barriers in Communication