OMG and it is the final weekend of September and fall is finally here!
I’m Scott Savoy at the Sterling Creations desk and today I am pleased to share our president’s editorial with you.
For today, Donna J. Jodhan focuses her attention on communication barriers.
Give this one a read and send your thoughts to her at donnajodhan@sterlingcreations.ca
Happy weekend!
+++++++++++++++
A Communication Barrier
By Donna J. Jodhan
In our increasingly globalized world, the opportunity to connect with people across cultures, borders, and backgrounds has never been more abundant. Yet, ironically, communication itself remains one of the most persistent and pressing barriers. For many, the challenge of expressing and understanding ideas becomes daunting when the people involved speak different first languages.
This divide, though invisible, is very real — and growing.
Language is more than just words; it is a vessel for culture, emotion, and identity. When two people converse without a shared linguistic foundation, the risk of misunderstanding increases — not just on a grammatical level, but emotionally and socially. Subtle cues are lost, tone is misread, and intentions can be misconstrued. It’s not just about speaking; it’s about truly being heard and understood.
For those who have tried to navigate a conversation in a language not their own, the experience can be isolating and even discouraging. Simple interactions can turn into exhausting puzzles. And yet, for many around the world, this is a daily reality.
So what can we do to bridge this communication gap?
First, we must foster empathy. Understanding that communication difficulties are not signs of incompetence, but rather of courage, can change the way we interact with non-native speakers. Patience, kindness, and openness go a long way.
Second, education matters. Encouraging multilingualism and integrating language learning into educational systems from an early age equips future generations with the tools to connect more seamlessly. Equally important is supporting accessible language resources for adults — from apps to community classes.
Third, technology can be a powerful ally. From real-time translation tools to AI-driven language apps, we now have the means to assist communication across linguistic divides. But technology should complement, not replace, the human effort to understand one another.
Finally, let us celebrate linguistic diversity rather than see it as an obstacle. Each language carries with it a different way of seeing the world. In learning to communicate across languages, we don’t just expand our vocabulary — we expand our capacity for understanding, for compassion, and for connection.
The communication barrier is real, but not insurmountable. With intention, effort, and heart, we can begin to close the gap — one conversation at a time.
I’d like to leave you with this to consider.
🖼️ Illustration Concept: “The Divided Conversation”
Scene:
Two people are sitting at a table, facing each other, clearly trying to talk. But between them, instead of open air or conversation bubbles, there’s a large transparent wall made of jumbled letters — alphabet characters from multiple languages (like English, Arabic, Mandarin, Spanish, etc.), swirling and overlapping. Some letters are falling to the floor like broken puzzle pieces.
Characters:
•
On one side, a woman is leaning forward, looking earnest but confused, her hands slightly raised as if trying to gesture meaningfully.
•
On the other side, a man has a kind expression, also trying to speak, pointing to a notepad with simple sketches — a sun, a house, a clock.
Background:
In the background, a muted world shows people walking by, some speaking animatedly, others staring at phones — indicating that communication is happening all around them, but not between these two.
Color Tone:
Use soft, slightly muted tones with a warm palette, but make the jumbled letters a little darker or more chaotic, so they clearly represent the obstacle.
Symbolism Ideas:
•
A speech bubble from each person is trying to form, but they clash in the middle and dissolve into the letter wall.
•
One of them holds a small translation device or phrasebook, hinting at hope or effort to break through the barrier.
digital/modern (e.g., via phone screens, AI translation, or texting).
Image = A diverse group of six smiling people stand against a white brick wall, each representing different ethnic backgrounds. Above their heads are colorful speech bubbles containing the word ‘Hello’ in multiple languages, including English (Hello), Spanish (Hola), French (Bonjour), Italian (Ciao), German (Hallo), Korean, Japanese, Thai, and Chinese. The image promotes multiculturalism, language diversity, and global communication in a friendly, inclusive atmosphere.
To learn more about me as an award winning sight loss coach and advocate visit www.donnajodhan.com
