Amanuensis
Encyclopedia
Amanuensis is a Latin word adopted in various languages, including English, for certain persons performing a function by hand, either writing down the words of another or performing manual labour. The term is derived from a Latin
expression which may be literally translated as "manual labourer".
) acting as a personal secretary.
A similar semantic evolution occurred at the French royal court, where the secrétaire de la main du roi, originally a lowly clerk specializing in producing, at royal command, the Sovereign's signature on more documents than he cared to put his pen to, developed into the secrétaires d'état, the first permanent portfolio minister
s, to which the British Secretaries of State would be the counterpart.
The term is often used interchangeably with secretary
or scribe
.
or disabled
person is helped by an amanuensis at a written examination. A notable case in classical music was that of Eric Fenby
, who assisted the blind composer Frederick Delius
in writing down the notes that Delius dictated.
In the Netherlands it refers to a (technically schooled) physics
or chemistry
laboratory assistant responsible for preparing and assisting with tests and maintaining the instruments. When employed as such in a school environment s/he will have the title of "TOA" ("technisch-onderwijsassistent", i.e. Technical Teaching Assistant).
In Norway
, amanuensis is an academic rank of a lecturer without a doctorate, although this title is going out of use. Førsteamanuensis (Norwegian
for "first amanuensis") is the equivalent of associate professor.
In Sweden
, amanuens is used to denote roughly a teaching assistant at university who continues with his own scientific work, or a civil servant at archives or museums.
The term is also used to describe one who assists an organist during a performance, by drawing and retiring stops, and by turning pages.
. During the 19th and early 20th century, an amanuensis was the job title for male secretaries who were employed by the railroad or ship to be available for travelers who required services en route.
The title is also used for officer positions in some collegiate debate societies, including the Philodemic Society
of Georgetown University
. The Amanuensis records the official proceedings of these societies.
NOTE: In Humphrey Carpenter's biography of Ezra Pound, "A Serious Character", Humphrey quotes a letter from Pound to his father:Olivia Shakespear "has angelicaly(sic) offered to do emanusensis(sic) work". Page 125 of the paperback edition.
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
expression which may be literally translated as "manual labourer".
Origin and secretarial uses
The word originated in ancient Rome, for a slave at his master's personal service 'within hand reach', performing any command; later it was specifically applied to an intimately trusted servant (often a freedmanFreedman
A freedman is a former slave who has been released from slavery, usually by legal means. Historically, slaves became freedmen either by manumission or emancipation ....
) acting as a personal secretary.
A similar semantic evolution occurred at the French royal court, where the secrétaire de la main du roi, originally a lowly clerk specializing in producing, at royal command, the Sovereign's signature on more documents than he cared to put his pen to, developed into the secrétaires d'état, the first permanent portfolio minister
Minister (government)
A minister is a politician who holds significant public office in a national or regional government. Senior ministers are members of the cabinet....
s, to which the British Secretaries of State would be the counterpart.
The term is often used interchangeably with secretary
Secretary
A secretary, or administrative assistant, is a person whose work consists of supporting management, including executives, using a variety of project management, communication & organizational skills. These functions may be entirely carried out to assist one other employee or may be for the benefit...
or scribe
Scribe
A scribe is a person who writes books or documents by hand as a profession and helps the city keep track of its records. The profession, previously found in all literate cultures in some form, lost most of its importance and status with the advent of printing...
.
Academic uses
It is also used in a specific sense in some academic contexts, for instance when an injuredInjury
-By cause:*Traumatic injury, a body wound or shock produced by sudden physical injury, as from violence or accident*Other injuries from external physical causes, such as radiation injury, burn injury or frostbite*Injury from infection...
or disabled
Disability
A disability may be physical, cognitive, mental, sensory, emotional, developmental or some combination of these.Many people would rather be referred to as a person with a disability instead of handicapped...
person is helped by an amanuensis at a written examination. A notable case in classical music was that of Eric Fenby
Eric Fenby
Eric William Fenby OBE was an English composer and teacher who is best known for being Frederick Delius's amanuensis from 1928 to 1934. He helped Delius realise a number of works that would not otherwise have been forthcoming....
, who assisted the blind composer Frederick Delius
Frederick Delius
Frederick Theodore Albert Delius, CH was an English composer. Born in the north of England to a prosperous mercantile family of German extraction, he resisted attempts to recruit him to commerce...
in writing down the notes that Delius dictated.
In the Netherlands it refers to a (technically schooled) physics
Physics
Physics is a natural science that involves the study of matter and its motion through spacetime, along with related concepts such as energy and force. More broadly, it is the general analysis of nature, conducted in order to understand how the universe behaves.Physics is one of the oldest academic...
or chemistry
Chemistry
Chemistry is the science of matter, especially its chemical reactions, but also its composition, structure and properties. Chemistry is concerned with atoms and their interactions with other atoms, and particularly with the properties of chemical bonds....
laboratory assistant responsible for preparing and assisting with tests and maintaining the instruments. When employed as such in a school environment s/he will have the title of "TOA" ("technisch-onderwijsassistent", i.e. Technical Teaching Assistant).
In Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
, amanuensis is an academic rank of a lecturer without a doctorate, although this title is going out of use. Førsteamanuensis (Norwegian
Norwegian language
Norwegian is a North Germanic language spoken primarily in Norway, where it is the official language. Together with Swedish and Danish, Norwegian forms a continuum of more or less mutually intelligible local and regional variants .These Scandinavian languages together with the Faroese language...
for "first amanuensis") is the equivalent of associate professor.
In Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
, amanuens is used to denote roughly a teaching assistant at university who continues with his own scientific work, or a civil servant at archives or museums.
The term is also used to describe one who assists an organist during a performance, by drawing and retiring stops, and by turning pages.
Job titles
On the other hand, certain employers use the term for (generally unskilled) manual labourers at the bottom of the hierarchy, for example as factotumFactotum
Factotum is the second novel by American author Charles Bukowski. The plot follows Henry Chinaski, Bukowski's alter ego, who has been rejected from the World War II draft and makes his way from one menial job to the next...
. During the 19th and early 20th century, an amanuensis was the job title for male secretaries who were employed by the railroad or ship to be available for travelers who required services en route.
The title is also used for officer positions in some collegiate debate societies, including the Philodemic Society
Philodemic Society
The Philodemic Society is a student debating organization at Georgetown University. It was founded in 1830 by Father James Ryder, S.J., in whose honor an award is given every Spring at the Merrick Debate. The Philodemic is among the oldest such societies in the United States and is the oldest...
of Georgetown University
Georgetown University
Georgetown University is a private, Jesuit, research university whose main campus is in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Founded in 1789, it is the oldest Catholic university in the United States...
. The Amanuensis records the official proceedings of these societies.
NOTE: In Humphrey Carpenter's biography of Ezra Pound, "A Serious Character", Humphrey quotes a letter from Pound to his father:Olivia Shakespear "has angelicaly(sic) offered to do emanusensis(sic) work". Page 125 of the paperback edition.