Mind the gap. Communication languages and strategies in participatory planning processes - The dimension of communication has assumed a significant role in planning activities in recent years. To reflect today on its forms means reasoning on the effectiveness of actions, projects, interactions and in particular here for the purpose of communication in participatory planning processes. When the objective is to ‘encourage participation’ comprehension is one of the priority objectives. To pursue this objective the best ways must be found to close the information gaps that are created between the transmitters of communications experts, planners, professionals and the receivers inhabitants, politicians, other experts and clients. Some considerations can be put forward concerning techniques, languages and communication strategies, identifying requirements and indications useful for making them effective in the fields of verbal communication (narrations and arguments), visual communication (working illustrations) and the construction of experiences (emotional involvement).