▁the ▁ 1 9 8 0 s , ▁works ▁on ▁the ▁syntax ▁and ▁semantics ▁of ▁X av ante ▁were ▁published , ▁foc using ▁on ▁sentence ▁initial ▁devices ▁and ▁focus ; ▁the ▁first ▁X av ante - Port ug uese ▁dictionary ▁was ▁also ▁produced ▁by ▁Hall , ▁Mc Le od , ▁and ▁Mitchell , ▁all ▁of ▁whom ▁had ▁research ed ▁extens ively ▁in ▁X av ante ▁( 1 9 8 7 ). ▁Since ▁the ▁ 1 9 9 0 s , ▁more ▁specific ▁properties ▁of ▁the ▁language ▁have ▁been ▁research ed ▁academ ically , ▁namely ▁with ▁respect ▁to ▁ac quisition , ▁name ▁agreement , ▁assim ilation , ▁morph ology , ▁and ▁respect / int im acy ▁relationships . ▁A ▁re vised ▁X av ante - Port ug uese ▁dictionary , ▁again ▁compiled ▁by ▁Hall , ▁Mc Le od , ▁and ▁Mitchell , ▁was ▁released ▁in ▁ 2 0 0 4 . ▁ ▁Ph on ology ▁The ▁ph on ology ▁of ▁X av ante ▁is ▁described ▁by ▁Mc Le od ▁( 1 9 7 4 ). ▁ ▁V ow els ▁X av ante ▁has ▁nine ▁v owel ▁qual ities , ▁long ▁and ▁short . ▁Four ▁occur ▁nas al ized , ▁long ▁and ▁short . ▁▁▁ ▁is ▁ ▁when ▁long ▁and ▁ ▁when ▁short . ▁ ▁is ▁raised ▁after ▁ ▁in ▁a ▁non - initial ▁sy ll able . ▁ ▁is ▁a ▁central ▁v owel . ▁It ▁is ▁a ▁rounded ▁ ▁in ▁certain ▁sty list ic ▁convent ions . ▁ ▁is ▁a ▁mid ▁v owel ▁