Which barrier to effective communication refers to the misunderstanding between words and their meanings?

The barrier to effective communication that pertains to the misunderstanding between words and their meanings is best represented by the confusion between symbol and symbolized object. In communication, symbols—such as words or phrases—are used to convey meaning. However, if the listener has a different interpretation of the symbol than what the speaker intended, it can lead to misunderstandings. This confusion can arise from differences in personal experiences, cultural backgrounds, or contexts in which words are used. Recognizing that words are merely representations of ideas or objects, rather than the objects or ideas themselves, is crucial in overcoming this barrier and ensuring clearer communication.

While the other concepts like interference, lack of common experience, and overuse of abstractions can also hinder effective communication, they do not specifically address the issue of misinterpretation of symbols. Interference can refer to distractions that affect communication, lack of common experience describes a scenario where individuals do not share mutual understanding or background, and overuse of abstractions involves using vague language that can obscure the intended meaning rather than misunderstanding the specific words themselves.