ExpertMedium2 marksMultiple Choice
ACCA · Question 25 · Syllabus E: Personal effectiveness and communication in business
An IT engineer at MetroTransit sends an email to the HR department explaining that the 'server latency is causing packet loss due to a DNS resolution failure.' The HR manager reads the email but has no idea what the problem is or how it affects payroll processing.
Which type of communication barrier has occurred in this scenario?
An IT engineer at MetroTransit sends an email to the HR department explaining that the 'server latency is causing packet loss due to a DNS resolution failure.' The HR manager reads the email but has no idea what the problem is or how it affects payroll processing.
Which type of communication barrier has occurred in this scenario?
Answer options:
A.
Physical barrier
B.
Psychological barrier
C.
Semantic barrier
D.
Status barrier
How to approach this question
Identify the root cause of the misunderstanding: the use of highly technical language (jargon) that the receiver doesn't understand.
Full Answer
C.Semantic barrier✓ Correct
A semantic barrier (or language barrier) occurs when the sender and receiver do not share the same understanding of the words or symbols used. The use of technical jargon by the IT engineer to a non-technical HR manager is a classic example.
Common mistakes
Choosing Psychological barrier because the HR manager might feel confused. The root cause is the language used, not the manager's emotional state.
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