The book isn't just about language; it’s a reflection on how we relate entire "worlds" across the barriers of culture, history, and colonization. The Core: "It has to mean exactly what I said"
Yeoman moves away from traditional "colonizer-colonized" dynamics by prioritizing Innu agency and naming conventions—such as using only Innu place names to literally put Indigenous history back on the map. Exactly What I Said: Translating Words and Worl...
The title stems from Penashue’s own requirement for their work together: "You don’t have to use the exact same words... But it has to mean exactly what I said" . This directive highlights a critical lesson for any communicator—that , not just vocabulary. Key Themes for Readers The book isn't just about language; it’s a
This blog post draft explores the themes and impact of Elizabeth Yeoman’s Exactly What I Said: Translating Words and Worlds , focusing on the ethics of cross-cultural collaboration and the power of Indigenous storytelling. More Than Words: Translating Worlds with Elizabeth Yeoman But it has to mean exactly what I said"