Language barriers in communication refer to the difficulties in communication experienced by people or groups originally speaking different languages or dialects. These barriers can arise due to many reasons, including limited language proficiency, differences in educational background, level of literacy, and country or area of the language user. Language barriers can cause misunderstandings and misinterpretations among coworkers, straining their interpersonal relationships. Some examples of how different types of language barriers to communication come into play in different situations in the corporate world include:

• When you travel to another country for work, not knowing the language well can pose various challenges; without an interpreter or translator, you’re likely to create unnecessary tension with potential clients or customers.

• People who share a common language can also find communication gaps; some individuals may speak in a soft voice and they can’t be understood as others.

Linguistic barriers can be grouped into the following categories: physical, emotional, psychological, and linguistic. Virtually any behavior or mannerism can prove to be a barrier to effective communication. Barriers in oral communication can occur when a helping person attempts to adapt or adjust to anothers speech pattern. The awareness and understanding of ethnic speech patterns is good in establishing effective communication, but when someone attempts to communicate using this, without adequate knowledge or ability, problems can arise. Without barrier recognition, effective communication cannot exist. Barriers to communication are as numerous as the types of communication they interact with. Virtually no form of communication is exempt from the problems these barriers can present.