is_pairlist() checks that x has type pairlist or NULL.
NULL is treated as a pairlist because it is the terminating
node of pairlists and an empty pairlist is thus the NULL
object itself.
is_node() checks that x has type pairlist.
In other words, is_pairlist() tests for the data structure while
is_node() tests for the internal type.
is_pairlist(x)is_node(x)
Object to test.
is_lang() tests for language nodes.