Question 1

Section A

BuildGlobal is an engineering firm working on a project in Japan. The lead architect from the UK sends an email to the Japanese site manager stating, 'We need to table this issue until next week.' In the UK, this means 'postpone the discussion', but the Japanese manager interprets it as 'put it on the table for immediate discussion'. What type of communication barrier has occurred here?

Accepted Answer

Identify that the breakdown happened because a specific idiom ('table this issue') has different meanings in different dialects/cultures. This is a meaning-based barrier, known as semantic noise.

Question 2

What mistakes do candidates make on this ACCA question?

Accepted Answer

Choosing 'Psychological noise' because it involves the mind. Psychological noise is about emotions/bias, whereas semantic is strictly about language and meaning.

How to approach this question

Full Answer

Common mistakes

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