The effect of translation knowledge on bilingual lexical production is mixed, with some studies showing translation interference and others showing facilitation. We considered the roles of first-language (L1) translation knowledge and second-language (L2) proficiency in lexical retrieval, testing predictions of the competition for selection, frequency lag and activation boosting accounts. In experiment 1, 54 highly proficient Spanish–English bilinguals named pictures of low-frequency nouns in English (L2). Spanish (L1) translation knowledge and English proficiency had an interactive effect on tip-of-the-tongue experiences with increased L1 translation interference at low levels of L2 proficiency and facilitation at high levels of L2 proficiency, consistent with combined predictions of competition for selection and activation boosting accounts. Experiment 2 confirmed that confounding lexical variables did not drive translation effects. By examining individual differences within bilinguals, we found support for multiple mechanisms that play a role in bilingual lexical retrieval that were not evident at the group level.

翻译知识对双语词汇产生的影响是复杂的，一些研究显示翻译干扰，另一些研究显示翻译促进。我们考虑了第一语言 (L1) 翻译知识和第二语言 (L2) 熟练程度在词汇检索中的作用，测试了对选择竞争、频率滞后和激活增强帐户的预测。在实验 1 中，54 名高度熟练的西英双语者用英语 (L2) 命名了低频名词的图片。西班牙语 (L1) 翻译知识和英语熟练程度对舌尖体验产生交互作用，在低水平的二语熟练程度下增加了母语翻译干扰，在高水平的二语熟练程度下增加了便利性，这与选择竞争的综合预测一致和激活促进帐户。实验 2 证实混杂的词汇变量不会驱动翻译效果。通过检查双语者的个体差异，我们发现了对在双语词汇检索中发挥作用的多种机制的支持，而这些机制在群体层面上并不明显。