While language scientists argue about the extent to which language learning is special relative to other cognitive abilities, there is consensus that domain general learning abilities play a role in facilitating successful language outcomes. We study these abilities using a comparative approach that involves children, adults, and nonhuman primates. Two particular areas of interest have been understanding the learning environment of bilinguals and whether the experience of a acquiring a second language influences how learners track patterns. We also study motor planning and language production, with an eye toward understanding whether word ordering choices are influenced by domain general sequencing biases.