Sexism And Racism Language: Barriers In Business Communication

Being able to communicate effectively and get the point you are trying to convey to your audience can be challenging at almost any given time. There are six major barriers that may interfere with your ability to communicate effectively with your audience in business communication. Clichés, jargon, slang, sexist and racist language, euphemisms, and doublespeak are all barriers that will effect your business communication and will affect your message from being received. Once you have lost someone by saying any of the above the rest of your message will not be received. Clichés, at the right moment, can make a comparison that may help the audience to understand a point, but should not be over used and used with a great deal of caution. Clichés
Sexist or racist language can open you up to disciplinary action or place your company in jeopardy of legal consequences. You do not want your reputation or the reputation of the company tarnished by these allegations. In America now, with the political unrest, politics is also something to avoid that could be grouped into this category. If it is necessary to have a racist or sexist comment in your communication then it should be presented with facts and not in a derogatory context. Being in a medical profession, it may be brought up that statistically African Americans are at higher risk for heart disease. This would need to accompany statistics quoted and not degrade the
With the purpose of an euphemism is to be vague sometimes in business communications being vague may result in someone missing your point. If you must use a euphemism make sure it is simple and easy to understand by all. Euphemisms would come into use with interpersonal and small group communication. " I need to be excused" instead of " I need to go to the bathroom" would be more appropriate if engaged in a one to one or small group communication. Doublespeak is a form of euphemism that also serves to make something sound less harsh. Many times doublespeak is used to deceive people or cover up harsher facts. When you hear the news of a plane crash and they say " 200 souls on board" is more pleasing to hear than " 200 people died in a plane crash". Doublespeak may be appropriate to use, at times, just use caution that your meaning is not covered in the use of other terms. Personally, I have used Cliché in some of my interpersonal and group communication. Being from a different area than most of my coworkers, many times they did not understand what I meant. I have also heard coworkers use clichés that they are use to and I have not understood what they meant. Clichés as well as slang can be very area, job, and education specific and should be used with caution in business