Understanding cognitive research on the integration of 2 languages in bilin
gual memory is difficult because of the different terminology, methodology,
analysis, and interpretation strategies that scholars with different backg
rounds bring to the research. These studies can be usefully categorized on
2 dimensions: memory for verbal experience versus linguistic knowledge, and
systemwise versus pairwise issues. Experimental findings in this area conv
erge on the conclusion that at the word meaning/conceptual level, both epis
odic and linguistic memory can be characterized as shared at the systems le
vel and at least partly shared at the pairwise translation-equivalent level
. Interpretation problems that stem from weak hypothesis testing structure
and from covert translation can be minimized by using appropriate design an
d analysis techniques.