A definition of metalinguistic activities is given which includes linguistic as well as enunciative and polyphonic dimensions of interaction. The triad of three French foreign language learners collectively producing an argumentative text is the data base described from the point of view of meta- and epilinguistic activities. It is hypothesized that, in an experimental situation of letter writing, these adults will spend an important part of the interaction regulating the linguistic aspects of text revision. Contrary to expectations, one result of the study shows that linguistic aspects proper are rarely taken into consideration (text production, metalanguage, polyphony, enunciative levels).