Origin of the English Double-is Construction

We are concerned with the pattern exemplified in (1a)-(1e). We refer to these as double-is constructions.1 (1) a. The thing is, is we’ve got to be strong. (Massam 1999) b. The point is is I’m not in business to be loved. (McConvell 1988) c. What’ll happen is is that somebody’ll get hurt. (Bolinger 1987) d. The problem is, is that we can’t find the evidence. (Massam 1999) e. The hitch is, is that it seems to be occurring in the opposite direction. (Massam 1999) For the sake of discussion, we will refer to the first is as be1, and the second is as be2. (2) The thing is, is that... be1 be