Skip to content

CMA Foundation · Fundamentals of Business Laws and Business Communication · Intercultural and International Business Communication

An Indian exporter in Pune sends a message to a Japanese buyer using the slang phrase 'let's touch base and knock this out of the park'. The buyer, a non-native English speaker, cannot follow it. Which barrier has mainly operated?

The main barrier is a language barrier caused by idioms and slang. The Japanese buyer, not a native English speaker, cannot interpret figurative expressions literally. The facts mention no noise, hierarchy or equipment failure, so the problem lies in the wording, which should be plain and clear for international readers.

  1. APhysical noise barrier
  2. BLanguage barrier arising from idioms and slangCorrect
  3. CStatus barrier
  4. DTechnological failure of the channel

Explanation

The message failed because idioms and slang do not translate literally for a non-native speaker, which is a language barrier in intercultural communication. Nothing indicates noise, hierarchy or channel failure, so the other options do not fit the facts.

Did you get it right without looking?

One question tells you little. A timed set on Intercultural and International Business Communication shows your real accuracy, how long you take and where you lose marks.

Practise Intercultural and International Business CommunicationFree diagnostic mock

More Intercultural and International Business Communication questions