Intercultural Communication Barriers

935 Words4 Pages
Have you ever been in a situation where you lost a lot of good opportunities because you can’t master English? For example, losing a job, not getting accepted in a college, not having the ability to be successful and making new friendships? I did. The reason behind it is “English” becoming the dominant language in my country, and maybe the whole world. I find it a good idea to have a global language; however, that left many people in awkward situations while trying to learn English, and adapt to the American culture because learning new language is difficult. Many article discussed this topic, and one of them is Intercultural Communication Stumbling Blocks by LaRay M. Barna. In her essay she discussed some factors that make communication hard between individuals with different backgrounds. These factors are language, nonverbal signs and symbols, preconceptions and stereotypes, the tendency to evaluate and high anxiety. I have experienced most of them, but the major factor is language. Barna claimed that language is the first stumble block because most of the nonnative speakers will find it hard to understand high vocabulary or idioms as she says “It hardly needs mentioning – language. Vocabulary, syntax, idioms, slangs, dialects and so on.” Another reason that makes the communication harder as Barna mentioned, is sticking to the definition of the word, and not understanding that the other person meant something else. Also, English is expressed in many variations of