This article pleads for strengthening two directions in research in the field of language and communication (Dutch: taalbeheersing). First, compared to the past decades more efforts should be paid to finding solutions for societal problems in professional communication, based on theoretical insights and empirical studies. Second, the relation between the academic field and the content of the secondary school subject Dutch should be reinforced, with special attention to overcoming language deficiencies of vulnerable groups of learners. ; This article pleads for strengthening two directions in research in the field of language and communication (Dutch: taalbeheersing). First, compared to the past decades more efforts should be paid to finding solutions for societal problems in professional communication, based on theoretical insights and empirical studies. Second, the relation between the academic field and the content of the secondary school subject Dutch should be reinforced, with special attention to overcoming language deficiencies of vulnerable groups of learners.