Semantic Barriers

Given the sheer volume of languages that are spoken around the world, it’s no wonder that the meaning of a message can easily be disrupted. Every language comes with its own set of signs, meanings, and symbols. If you were to tell your North American friend to call you a taxi, he’d promptly order a car to come pick you up. Ask a South American friend to call you a taxi on the other hand, and you might have a new nickname. 

To understand what semantic barriers are, it’s important to first understand what semantic means. Semantics is the study of meaning, signs and symbols used for communication.

Miscommunications can arise due to different situations that form the semantic barrier between the sender and the receiver. These situations, to name a few, may be language, education, or  cultural differences. There are two types of semantic barriers that exist in communication: denotative barriers and connotative barriers.

A denotative barrier is a difference in the definition or meaning of a word used by the sender and receiver. Ultimately, the sender and receiver don’t agree on the meaning of a word and so they encounter some miscommunication. Take for example the word “jumper”. In British English, jumper refers to a long-sleeved article of clothing that goes over your head. In American English, a jumper is referred to as a sweater. These denotative differences could surely cause some confusion on a trip abroad to London.

A connotative barrier refers to the difference of meaning according to different abstract situations and contexts. The sender and the receiver know the meanings of the word, but use the meaning that fits the context of the conversation. The word current is a good example of this type of barrier. The sender and receiver know that the word current can mean up to date or a flow of water. However, the context of the conversation in which the word is used will signal to the receiver what the sender means.