 However, his life's work led to a re-evaluation of the consideration of missionary work as an essential aspect of colonialism, because while he maintained his position as a missionary and not a native, he did manage to contribute to the shaping of modern Africa as a crucial pioneer of translation through his writing contributions.Although Young did not receive any formal training as an anthropologist, he had anthropological ambitions and is most recognised for his anthropology work rather than as a missionary.His publication, "Notes on the history of the Tumbuka-Kamanga peoples in the Northern Province of Nyasaland," in 1970 provided the first published record of the ethnography and history of northern Malawi.