language barrier
/ˈlæŋɡwɪdʒ bærɪər/ · lan·guage·bar·rier
noun
- A conceptual barrier to effective communication, occurring when people who speak different languages attempt to communicate with each other. The language barrier between the tourists and the locals made it difficult for them to order food at the restaurant.
- A situation in which a person's language skills are not sufficient to communicate effectively with others. The language barrier made it hard for the new employee to understand the instructions from her manager.
Synonyms
communication breakdownlinguistic dividecultural gaplanguage gaplinguistic barriercommunication obstaclecultural divide
Antonyms
Did you know? The concept of a language barrier has been a significant challenge throughout history, particularly in international diplomacy and trade. The Tower of Babel, a biblical story, is often seen as a metaphor for the language barrier that can arise between people with different languages.