Barriers to Communication in London Tube Train

This report addresses the barriers faced by commuters and tourists in the London tube train and suggests effective communication means for better understanding.

REPORT

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction......................................................................................................................................3
Literature Review............................................................................................................................3
Analysis...........................................................................................................................................4
Recommendations............................................................................................................................6
Conclusion.......................................................................................................................................7

Introduction
Communication is exchange of information by means of some medium either by
speaking or by writing. London's tube is the busiest train in which there are local commuters as
well as outside tourists because of which there is lot of pressure going on in the train. The report
addresses on barriers that are being faced by the commuters and the outside passengers travelling
in London tube on daily basis. There is a communication gap between the local residents and the
tourists. The report further suggests the effective communication means along with principles of
communication for better understanding between the two passenger category of the London tube.
Effective communication will help in getting clear understanding between passengers of tube.
Literature Review
Barriers to communication can impact the relationship between two people who are
communicating. According to Kittelman, Calvo‐Amodio and Martínez León, (2018), for
effective communication barriers are to be removed as they can affect the relationship between
the two persons. If in a language barrier, one person is not listening properly to other one while
they both are having conversation will affect the communication. A good communication is not
just about hearing words but actively listening to what the other person is saying. For effective
communication listen to other person more than you speak, speaker's body language and
behaviour is to be observed, deeply concentrating on what is said in the communication and not
interrupting on what is already heard. If there is interruption by one person while the other one is
speaking then the communication will be effected. Not being clear and concise can affect the
communication.
However, there are some other Clarkson, (2016), who have other point of view on barriers of
communication. They stated that in a jargon barrier, confusion and misunderstanding arises when
the communicator user the words that are rarely used or uses overly technical language.
Sometimes rarely used words can be necessary but it should be for some purpose. If
communicator is using technical language , listener will not understand points in communication.
One of the barrier of communication is avoiding concern for others . Each person has his own set
of life skills, viewpoints and experience that will affect the communication. Keeping an open
mind while communicating in a stressful environment is important to get over the barrier of
communication. There will be differences in understanding and perspective, but they are to be

overcome for effective communication. Further to get the idea from where the person is coming
will help to get an idea to adjust tone and body language.
The research paper published by Zang, (2019)states that the message or idea that is to be
communicated should be clear in the mind of the communicators. There should be clarity of
words that the sender is conveying to the receiver. The ambiguity in the message will distract the
communication process. There should be no ambiguity in the message to be delivered. It is the
speaker who gives meaning to the words, words do not speak for themselves. A clear message
will be clearly delivered to the listener. It is important that the receiver must be conversant with
language of the communication. It is important that attention of receiver is at most for making
the communication effective. As people are different in their understandings, emotions and
behaviour they may respond differently to a message. One person may respond differently to one
message than the other. To make the communication effective it is important to follow the
principle of feedback. For understanding the message in the same sense as send by the sender to
the receiver a good feedback information is required.
However, some Peleckis (2018), have stated that although formal communication is used for
transmitting messages and other information but sometimes informal communication proves to
be more effective than formal communication in the situations where formal one is not being
effective. Sometimes informal communication is used for noting the reaction of the receiver. So
they have stated that informal communication is equally important as formal communication.
They further state principle of consistency. As per this principle communication should always
be consistent with the policies, programmes, plans and objectives of the organization. If there is
non-consistency with this then the message will not be clearly understood by the receiver.
Communication will lose its importance if it is not consistent to the organizational goals and
objectives.
Analysis
The main purpose of communication is to exchange ideas among the people working in
the organization. The main purpose of communication is to inform, to express feeling, to
imagine, to influence, and to meet social expectations. All these purposes are reflected in forms
of communication (Fischer, Posegga and Fischbach, 2016). The purpose of the communication is
to get an response from the other party.

Now the principles of communication. An effective communication is based on the following
principles of clarity of ideas, principle of appropriate language, principle of adequacy and
principle of proper time etc.
Principle of clarity of idea:
It should be first clear in the mind of the sender as what he is sending is clear. Communication
will be clear if the idea's in the communication are clear.
Principle of appropriate language:
Language of the communication should be simple so as to make it appropriate. A difficult
language makes the communication inappropriate.
Principle of adequacy:
In communication the information that is being sent should be complete and sufficient. If there is
more information, then needed or less then needed both can effect communication.
Principle of proper time:
It is important that the messages in the communication should be delivered whenever they are
needed. The messages should be sent well n time so that it does not affect the importance of
communication.
Principle of proper medium:
To make the communication effective it is important to make a proper choice of medium. If the
medium is not chosen correctly, communication will fail. In London tube oral form of
communication is more useful than written one.
Principle of Economy:
Communication system should be such that it is not an extra burden on the company.
Communication should be made economical. In London tube using communication other than
oral will be costly one.
Principle of consultation:
Before making plans for communication, suggestion from all the concerned persons should be
invited. All those who are invited for suggestions will contribute to the success of the
communication system.
Principle of Flexibility:
A communication system that does not change according to need becomes ineffective. It should
be one that can absorb changes.

Principle of Integration:
Communication should be such that the all the employees are moving united towards the goal of
the company.
Evaluate communication in London tube:
In the tube train of London the daily commuters as well as the foreign tourists both are
not having proper communication between themselves (Samovar and et.al.,2017). The daily local
commuters of the tube are of the opinion that they do deserve to be in train first, they feel as if
the outside foreigners should not enter the train. Thus, they are not having proper communication
between themselves. Local commuters do not prefer to talk to outside foreigners they are
themselves in their superiority complex. They prefer remaining silent in place of talking to
outsiders.
Apart from non interest of local commuters to have conversation with foreigners in the tube
train, there are other factors like language problem in the tube train as the daily local commuters
are not aware of the local languages of the outside foreigners travelling in the train.
Every outside foreigner in the tube train has its own local language which the daily commuters
do not understand as a result there is no communication between them. Lack of communication
between the two category of passengers in the train make the situation in more pressure and
tense.
Recommendations
Following are the recommendations to deal with pressure situation in tube train of
London:
 The staff that is being appointed on the Landon tube train station should be trained such
that they may have proper conversation with the outside foreigner passengers who are
coming to use the tube train.
 The local commuters who are daily commuting in the tube should be polite in having
words with outside foreigners. They should talk to foreigners in polite way so a that they
may be more comfortable to use the tube train.
 Outside foreigner tourists should be more comfortable in using Mobile applications for
the tube train as this will help in avoiding unnecessary communication on tube station.
 Sign boards must be used in the tube train station of the London as it will help the
foreigners to get the information from them and avoid communication with commuters.

 There can be a universal language written on the station which most of the outsider
foreigners may understand.
Conclusion
The relevance of the study is to know about the problems that the local daily commuters
and outside foreign tourists are facing while travelling in tube train of London. Both the
travellers of the tube train are not in proper communication with one another making the
situation so tense. The report further notes down the communication principles to be followed by
London tube train station for coming out of the pressurized situations on the stations. The report
also suggests that the tube train station should try to remove the barriers of communication
between the local commuters and the foreign tourists on the station of Landon Tube.

REFERENCES
Clarkson, M.D., 2016, October. Communication training for scientists and engineers: A
framework for highlighting principles common to written, oral, and visual
communication. In 2016 IEEE International Professional Communication Conference
(IPCC) (pp. 1-8). IEEE.
Fischer, D., Posegga, O. and Fischbach, K., 2016. Communication barriers in crisis
management: A literature review.
Kittelman, S., Calvo‐Amodio, J. and Martínez León, H.C., 2018. A systems analysis of
communication: defining the nature of and principles for communication within human
activity systems. Systems Research and Behavioral Science.35(5).pp.520-537.
Peleckis, K., 2018. BUSINESS NEGOTIATIONS: PRINCIPLES OF COMMUNICATION,
RHETORICAL ARGUMENTATION, STRATEGIC ORIENTATIONS.
In ИННОВАЦИОННЫЕ ПОДХОДЫ В РЕШЕНИИ ПРОБЛЕМ СОВРЕМЕННОГО
ОБЩЕСТВА (pp. 117-158).
Samovar, L.A and et.al.,2017. Communication between cultures. Nelson Education.
Zang, J., 2019. Discussion on the Blended Teaching Approach Based on Independent Learning
about the Course Principles of Communication. Frontiers in Educational
Research, 2(2).
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