No grammatical illusion with L2-specific memory retrieval cues in agreement processing

L2 learners have to acquire both grammatical knowledge and appropriate processing routines to implement this knowledge. We present a case where failure to acquire native-like processing actually helps L2 speakers avoid a native-like processing error. Results from SPR and speeded acceptability experiments indicate Chinese learners of English are sensitive to subject-verb agreement violations online, but, unlike native speakers, do not show any evidence of experiencing an illusion of grammaticality with agreement attraction configurations. Since the L2 learners do not seem to experience an illusion of grammaticality, they are in a sense processing the input more accurately than the native speakers.