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Bilingual Episodic Memory Processes

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Psychology of Bilingualism

Part of the book series: The Bilingual Mind and Brain Book Series ((BMBBS))

Abstract

This chapter reviews some of the major theoretical approaches to encoding (e.g., levels of processing, the generation, distributed-practice, and repetition effects) and retrieval (e.g., encoding specificity principle and transfer appropriate processing) in bilingual episodic memory. An overview of the published findings suggests that, like the classic monolingual general findings, bilingual retrieval is enhanced by such factors as deep processing, elaboration, distinctiveness, and spaced practice repetitions, as opposed to shallow processing and massed repetitions. Moreover, there is a propensity for between-language conditions (i.e., translations) to enhance memory retrieval, relative to within-language conditions (i.e., monolingual conditions), suggesting that translations are more distinctive and require more mental effort and mental elaboration. Bilingual memory retrieval appears to be language-dependent, and retention is enhanced to the extent to which the retrieval contextual properties (i.e., language) and processes (i.e., perceptual vs. semantic) match those employed during the encoding process. Bilingual memory effects are related to existing bilingual models, and methodological and empirical concerns are discussed and underscored.

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Acknowledgement

The authors are grateful to Catherine L. Caldwell-Harris for comments and suggestions on an earlier version of this paper.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Texas A&M International University, Laredo, TX, USA

    Roberto R. Heredia & Elva A. García

Authors
  1. Roberto R. Heredia
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  2. Elva A. García
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Correspondence to Roberto R. Heredia .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Communication Sciences and Disorders, Florida International University, Miami, Florida, USA

    Alfredo Ardila

  2. Department of Psychology and Communication, Texas A&M International University, Laredo, Texas, USA

    Anna B. Cieślicka

  3. Department of Psychology and Communication, Texas A&M International University, Laredo, Texas, USA

    Roberto R. Heredia

  4. Department of Psychology, Florida Atlantic University, Davie, Florida, USA

    Mónica Rosselli

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Heredia, R.R., García, E.A. (2017). Bilingual Episodic Memory Processes. In: Ardila, A., Cieślicka, A., Heredia, R., Rosselli, M. (eds) Psychology of Bilingualism. The Bilingual Mind and Brain Book Series. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-64099-0_6

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