Which of the following is a barrier caused by cultural differences?

• A. Deafness
• B. Language Differences
• C. Eye Contact Norms
• D. Noise Levels

Answer: (B)

Language differences create a barrier because language is the main way we encode and decode messages. When people come from different language backgrounds, nuance can be lost, details can be missed, and understanding often requires translation or interpretation. This barrier directly stems from cultural variation in how language is used.

Eye contact norms are another cultural factor that can lead to misunderstandings, since different cultures interpret gaze in different ways, but they affect nonverbal cues rather than the core ability to understand the spoken message. Deafness represents a physical condition rather than a cultural difference, and noise levels are environmental factors, not cultural barriers.