INTERFERENCE IN COMMUNICATION

Interference is any barrier to the communication transaction. External or internal

interference distracts listeners from the message. External interference refers to barriers

occurring outside the speaker or the listener and may be auditory or visual. For example, your

stereo is external auditory interference when it distracts you from what your roommate is saying.

In the classroom, external auditory interference may be a result of loud fans, classmates

whispering among themselves, traffic outside, an airplane flying overhead, or people talking in

the hallway. External visual interference may occur when a classmate enters the room while you

are presenting your speech, when a police officer makes an arrest outside your classroom

window, or when audience members are passing notes.

It is not always possible to eliminate external interference, but effective public speakers

attempt to reduce its potential impact. They might close the classroom door to reduce the level of

noise coming from the hallway, speak louder above the noise of fans, or pause as the airplane

flies over. Good speakers also modify their delivery to reduce the potential for internal

interference, which may be physical or psychological and may occur within the speaker as well

as within the listeners. Perhaps one of your listeners has a distracting headache, is worried about

a test coming up next period, or is looking forward to lunch. As the speaker, you may also

experience internal interference. You may have stayed up late rehearsing the speech and your

resulting fatigue may cause you to lose your concentration. Or you may be worrying about how

you look or sound like to your listeners instead of focusing on your message.

Effective public speakers consider each element of the transactional model of

communication and how it might help or hurt their presentation. They seek to adapt their

message to the communication situation and audience, offer their ideas using multiple channels,

read and adjust feedback, and limit the potential of external and internal interference than can

impede listeners’ understanding.

From:

Sellnow, Deanna D. (2005). Confident public speaking. Wadsworth Publication. CA:USA.