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This article deals with the intellectual dynamism that for twenty-five years was the main link between Communication & langages and Gérard Blanchard (1927-1994). He was a founding member and an emblematic personality of its editorial board. Two-thousand and twelve marks the fiftieth year of Communication & langages, and is therefore a great opportunity for three PhD candidates to evaluate Blanchard’s status and influence within the journal. This article presents three directions that provide a step-by-step analysis of Blanchard’s thought process. Graphic design was the first step by which Blanchard established a connection with Communication & langages. Thanks to him, it ended up being one of the leading sections of the journal, in terms of both the volume of articles and the variety of topics covered. The second direction elaborates on how Blanchard’s ideas, built as a system, all point toward writing practices. Finally, the third direction shows how this system of ideas is applied in various ways and themes, providing rich material for exploration and analysis. SPECIAL REPORT: The languages of gender: Semiotics and communication. Coordinated by Karine Berthelot-Guiet and Stéphanie Kunert