Forms and functions of pseudo-tautologies

Abstract

This article examines pseudo-tautological constructions of the type [X COPULA X] (e.g., War is war , A deal is a deal , Kids are Kids , Boys will be boys ) from a constructional and cross-linguistic perspective. Drawing on semantic, logical, and rhetorical definitions of tautology, it argues that such expressions are not semantically redundant but convey conventionalized pragmatic meanings which typically trigger implicatures such as inevitability, normativity, or evaluative stance. Adopting a usage-based Construction Grammar framework, the study treats pseudo-tautologies as schematic idioms that are idiosyncratic in terms of both form and meaning. Methodologically, the analysis combines theoretical discussion with a corpus-based investigation spanning four languages: German, English, French and Italian. Based on large web corpora, five structural subtypes are identified and classified according to formal and semantic-pragmatic criteria. Particular attention is paid to typological variation, especially the role of determiners and the availability of bare nouns, which significantly constrain the distribution and productivity of the construction across languages.