Business Communication Journal, Essay Example

Synopsis of Conversation:

• I asked a salesperson in a store if they carry the brand of soap that I was trying to find. Without looking at me, she gestured that I should go to the aisle across where we were standing. I found the gesture rude and so I just left.
• When I got home, I asked my sister if she knows where my slippers are. She murmured her answer while her head was down. I did not quite understand what she was saying so I repeated my question for about 2 times that caused her to be annoyed.
• I had a conversation with one of my friends and she will not make eye contact with me. I thought she was not interested with what I have to say so I just dropped the conversation. Then I got her attention and she apologized.
• My classmates and I were in a library and we had to exchange some questions about our lesson but due to the no-noise policy in the room we could barely understand each other.
• I was at a friend’s place and the toddler in the house was crying non-stop and looking at the mother who was busy at that moment preparing the milk for the toddler and was not looking at the toddler.

It is apparent that the paralanguage barriers that were involved in the conversation were the lack of eye contact, silence and inappropriate body language when communicating. It is hard to read a person when they do not make eye contact. In addition, it is hard to understand people when they are murmuring and do not look to the person they were talking to. If there was only proper eye contact, audible sound when talking and proper body language, misunderstanding would have been prevented. It would also prevent people from getting annoyed and all in all just have a good conversation.