This article is a critical synthesis of the work which has been done in the field of bilingualism and calculation. The theoretical frameworks dealing with the question of the possible influence of the format or of the language on the retrieval of arithmetical facts are described. The results of the research are discussed in detail by examining the possible alternative interpretations. Encoding and production processes, as well as the possible influence of short-term memory (which may vary according to the subject’s language), are the main considerations.