This capacity was captured in Wilhelm von Humboldt's famous phrase that language makes "infinite use of finite means".
Children, in their process of first-language acquisition, notably in pre-sleep monologues, have been observed to use new phrases as models for more phrases, varying words or word groups during phases of essentially non-communicative verbal play in ways reminiscent of pattern drills.
[2] In second language acquisition children may begin with prefabricated patterns or chunks.
[3] Butzkamm & Caldwell[3] suggest bilingual semi-communicative drills as a possible solution.
So he gives a few more examples and starts a very short drill with cues in the students’ native language (German): These are disconnected sentences which are often rejected by leading theorists such as Lewis,[4] who speaks of a "fundamentally flawed methodology".