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Dual-coding theory
The dual-coding theory, first postulated by Paivio and Desrochers in 1980, indicates that two systems are responsible for the encoding and retrieval of information from memory. The verbal representational system encodes verbal information, while the imagery system encodes and retrieves non-verbal objects. The dual-coding theory enunciates that these two systems operate independently, as well as interdependently. This theme continues into the bilingual adaptation of the dual-coding theory, which indicates that an individual's verbal representational systems for their two languages operate independently of one another, but also have associative connections with each other. For example, thinking of synonyms for "fierce" using English words, only involves the English language system, but if a person is required to translate the word "fierce" into the French version, this act would entail the two language systems to have associative connections.

Some flaws with the bilingual dual coding theory have been identified. People tend to recollect translated items better than they recall words that are directly copied, or words derived as synonyms. People tend to recall translated words easier than words in one language because of the added association between the two languages. Translated words are easier to recall because of the stronger associations that exist between languages than there are within a single language. This follows the levels of processing effect, which indicates that participants better recall words they think of themselves than words they are asked to memorize. Similarly, words that participants are required to translate will are better remembered than are words for which they created synonyms.

Language-dependent recall
Language-dependent recall postulates that memories are best recalled when the encoding language matches the that of recall. This is related to the encoding specificity principle proposed by Tulving and Thompson which states that recall is more effective when the retrieval context is similar to the context in which the memory was encoded.

Language-dependent recall relates to context-dependent memory. In the perspective of bilingualism, context dependent memory indicates that language spoken during encoding acts as the external context; whereas the language in which a person thinks, rehearses and conducts inner speech constitutes the internal environment. (citation needed)

Bilingual individuals maintain the ability to encode different memories depending on which language they used to encode them. Viorica and Kaushanskaya demonstrate this principle in their English and Mandarin inquiry. Participants were asked in Mandarin and English to recall a statue of a person with an arm forward looking into the distance. When listening to Mandarin, participants were more likely to mention the "Statue of Mao," whereas participants responding to English tended to mention the "Statue of Liberty." Additionally, when someone encodes a memory in one language but is asked to recall it in another, memory suffers. Thus indicating the importance of reinstating the internal and external context during retrieval to match the context during encoding. (citation needed)

Accordingly, autobiographical memories and semantic knowledge can be impaired when the language during the recall (ex. English) of the memory does not match the language during encoding (ex. French). However, there are several benefits when the contexts match. For example, Viorica and Fausey found that when the linguistics at encoding match the linguistics during retrieval it increases the speed, accuracy, and emotional intensity of the memory. Thus suggesting that language impacts the cues that are involved in the retrieval of bilingual memories.