Semantic Hierarchy of Degree Expressions for Psychological Predicates in Yimeng Dialect

Psychological predicates describe mental states and cognitive capacities, reflecting a subject’s internal experiences, emotional states, and cognitive processes, with their degree semantics exhibiting multi-layered distinctions (high, medium, low). Compared with Mandarin, the degree category of psychological predicates in the Yimeng dialect of Shandong exhibits distinct regional characteristics. Based on field investigations, this study systematically examines the semantic representations of degree and their semantic hierarchy to intensify psychological predicates in the dialect. The findings reveal that the degree category of psychological predicates in the Yimeng dialect encompasses multiple levels, including polar degree, minimal degree, and comparative degree. Notably, polar and high-degree adverbs are predominant, with their semantics largely derived from the perceptual intensity of sensory stimuli and cognitive processing. This not only reflects the psychological reality of degree expressions in psychological predicates but also reveals the dialect community’s shared cognitive patterns regarding emotional intensity. The study provides new empirical evidence for the gradability systems of psychological predicates in Chinese dialects.