An amanuensis (/əˌmænjuˈɛnsɪs/) is a person employed to write or type what another dictates or to copy what has been written by another, and also refers to a person who signs a document on behalf of another under the latter's authority.[1] In one example Eric Fenby assisted the blind composer Frederick Delius in writing down the notes that Delius dictated.
The word originated in ancient Rome, for a slave at his master's personal service "within hand's reach", performing any command; later it was specifically applied to an intimately trusted servant (often a freedman) acting as a personal secretary (amanuensis is what he does, not what he is).[2]
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 ministers, to which the British Secretaries of State would be the counterpart.
In the Netherlands it refers to a (technically schooled) physics, chemistry or biology laboratory assistant responsible for preparing and assisting with or conducting laboratory demonstrations and maintaining the instruments. When employed as such in a school environment they will have the title of "TOA" ("technisch-onderwijsassistent", i.e. Technical Teaching Assistant).
In Sweden, amanuens is used to denote roughly a teaching assistant at university who either continues with their own scientific work, or who works as an administrative assistant at the department where they study. The title can also be used for a civil servant at archives or museums.[6]
In Finland, amanuenssi is an administrative employee of a university, research institution or museum. In Finnish universities, amanuenses can be involved with student guidance counseling, organising course activities etc.[7] In Finnish universities' schools of medicine, the title of "amanuenssi" is reserved for students working under guidance and supervision in hospitals, a mandatory part of medical studies. In Finnish museums they generally are working with the museum's collections.
The term is also used to describe someone who assists an organist during a performance, by drawing and retiring stops, and by turning pages, although the more common term is "registrant."
Amanuesis is a dated job title sometimes used by employers for unskilled or manual labourers at the bottom of the company hierarchy, for example as factotum.[citation needed] 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.
A similar term, Handlanger, exists in German and Dutch (nowadays in Germany its negative connotation of an unscrupulous, low person acting as criminal assistant prevails whereas the original use of this term for an unskilled and possibly also illiterate person assisting, in the literal sense of lending a hand at construction works has become rather rare[8]). The term, handlanger, is also used in Afrikaans, but mostly without the criminal undertones; handlanger typically refers to an aide, helper or handyman.
Pauly-Wissowa (an encyclopaedia of classical antiquity, in German)
Larousse (a general encyclopaedia in French)
English language sources
Aland, Kurt (1961). "The Problem of Anonymity and Pseudonymity in Christian Literature of the First Two Centuries". 12. Journal of Theological Studies: 39–49. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
Carson, D.A. (2000). "Pseudonymity and Pseudepigraphy". In Evans, Craig A.; Porter, Stanley E. (eds.). Dictionary of New Testament Background. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press. pp. 857–864.
Cousar, Charles B. (1996). "The Letters of Paul". Interpreting Biblical Texts. Nashville: Abingdon.
Deissmann, G. Adolf. Bible Studies. Trans. Alexander Grieve. 1901. Peabody: Hendrickson, 1988.
Doty, William G. Letters in Primitive Christianity. Guides to Biblical Scholarship. New Testament. Ed. Dan O. Via Jr. Philadelphia: Fortress, 1988.
Gamble, Harry Y. “Amanuensis.” Anchor Bible Dictionary. Vol. 1. Ed. David Noel Freedman. New York: Doubleday, 1992.
Haines-Eitzen, Kim (1998). "'Girls Trained in Beautiful Writing': Female Scribes in Roman Antiquity and Early Christianity". Journal of Early Christian Studies. 6 (4): 629–646. doi:10.1353/earl.1998.0071. S2CID 171026920.
Longenecker, Richard N. “Ancient Amanuenses and the Pauline Epistles.” New Dimensions in New Testament Study. Eds. Richard N. Longenecker and Merrill C. Tenney. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1974. 281–97. idem, “On the Form, Function, and Authority of the New Testament Letters.” Scripture and Truth. Eds. D.A. Carson and John D. Woodbridge. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1983. 101–14.
Murphy-O’Connor, Jerome. Paul the Letter-Writer: His World, His Options, His Skills. Collegeville, MN: Liturgical, 1995.
Richards, E. Randolph. The Secretary in the Letters of Paul. Tübingen: Mohr, 1991. idem, “The Codex and the Early Collection of Paul’s Letters.” Bulletin for Biblical Research 8 (1998): 151–66. idem, Paul and First-Century Letter Writing: Secretaries, Composition, and Collection. Downers Grove: InterVarsity, 2004.
Robson, E. Iliff (1917). "Composition and Dictation in New Testament Books". Journal of Theological Studies. 18: 288–301.
Stowers, Stanley K. Letter Writing in Greco-Roman Antiquity. Library of Early Christianity. Vol. 8. Ed. Wayne A. Meeks. Philadelphia: Westminster, 1989.
Wall, Robert W. “Introduction to Epistolary Literature.” New Interpreter’s Bible. Vol. 10. Ed. Leander E. Keck. Nashville: Abingdon, 2002. 369–91.
External links
Look up amanuensis in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.
Quote, via Goodreads: "I'd be churched to death, bridge-partied to death, called upon to give book reviews at the Amanuensis Club, expected to become a part of the community. It takes a lot of what I don't have to be a member of this wedding." ― Harper Lee, Go Set a Watchman
March 23, 2023
amanuensis, amanuensis, person, employed, write, type, what, another, dictates, copy, what, been, written, another, also, refers, person, signs, document, behalf, another, under, latter, authority, example, eric, fenby, assisted, blind, composer, frederick, de. An amanuensis e ˌ m ae nj u ˈ ɛ n s ɪ s is a person employed to write or type what another dictates or to copy what has been written by another and also refers to a person who signs a document on behalf of another under the latter s authority 1 In one example Eric Fenby assisted the blind composer Frederick Delius in writing down the notes that Delius dictated Andrew Taylor Still with his amanuensis who is at a typewriter Contents 1 Origin and secretarial uses 2 Uses 3 Modern religious uses 4 Job titles 5 Notes 6 References 7 External linksOrigin and secretarial uses Edit A Mexican evangelista or letter writer The word originated in ancient Rome for a slave at his master s personal service within hand s reach performing any command later it was specifically applied to an intimately trusted servant often a freedman acting as a personal secretary amanuensis is what he does not what he is 2 In the Bible the Apostle Paul is shown as the author of the Book of Romans 3 However at the end of the book Tertius of Iconium describes himself as the scribe who wrote the letter 4 A similar semantic evolution occurred at the French royal court where the secretaire 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 secretaires d etat the first permanent portfolio ministers to which the British Secretaries of State would be the counterpart Uses EditIt is also used in some academic contexts when an injured or disabled person is helped by an amanuensis at a written examination The word was also used when Eric Fenby assisted the blind composer Frederick Delius in writing down the notes that Delius dictated 5 In the Netherlands it refers to a technically schooled physics chemistry or biology laboratory assistant responsible for preparing and assisting with or conducting laboratory demonstrations and maintaining the instruments When employed as such in a school environment they will have the title of TOA technisch onderwijsassistent i e Technical Teaching Assistant In Norway amanuensis is an academic rank of a lecturer with a doctorate Forsteamanuensis Norwegian for first amanuensis is the equivalent of associate professor In Sweden amanuens is used to denote roughly a teaching assistant at university who either continues with their own scientific work or who works as an administrative assistant at the department where they study The title can also be used for a civil servant at archives or museums 6 In Finland amanuenssi is an administrative employee of a university research institution or museum In Finnish universities amanuenses can be involved with student guidance counseling organising course activities etc 7 In Finnish universities schools of medicine the title of amanuenssi is reserved for students working under guidance and supervision in hospitals a mandatory part of medical studies In Finnish museums they generally are working with the museum s collections The term is also used to describe someone who assists an organist during a performance by drawing and retiring stops and by turning pages although the more common term is registrant Modern religious uses EditThis article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Amanuensis news newspapers books scholar JSTOR December 2015 Learn how and when to remove this template message Amanuensis is also used in New Thought and mystical religious movements such as Church Universal and Triumphant to describe the role of a person receiving dictation from one of the Ascended Masters For example Mark L Prophet religious leader and founder of the Summit Lighthouse claims to have written down dictation from El Morya In doing so he would have served as El Morya s amanuensis Job titles EditThis article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Amanuensis news newspapers books scholar JSTOR December 2015 Learn how and when to remove this template message Amanuesis is a dated job title sometimes used by employers for unskilled or manual labourers at the bottom of the company hierarchy for example as factotum citation needed 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 and literary societies including the Philodemic Society of Georgetown University The Amanuensis records the official proceedings of these societies A similar term Handlanger exists in German and Dutch nowadays in Germany its negative connotation of an unscrupulous low person acting as criminal assistant prevails whereas the original use of this term for an unskilled and possibly also illiterate person assisting in the literal sense of lending a hand at construction works has become rather rare 8 The term handlanger is also used in Afrikaans but mostly without the criminal undertones handlanger typically refers to an aide helper or handyman Notes Edit Oxford English Dictionary 3rd ed 2003 Suetonius Romans 1 1 Romans 16 22 Eric Fenby 1936 Delius as I Knew Him G Bell amp Sons Ltd London NE se Amanuenssi jyu fi Handlanger der at duden deReferences EditNon English language sourcesBokmalsordboka the official Norwegian language dictionary Pauly Wissowa an encyclopaedia of classical antiquity in German Larousse a general encyclopaedia in French English language sourcesAland Kurt 1961 The Problem of Anonymity and Pseudonymity in Christian Literature of the First Two Centuries 12 Journal of Theological Studies 39 49 a href Template Cite journal html title Template Cite journal cite journal a Cite journal requires journal help Bahr Gordon J 1966 Paul and Letter Writing in the First Century 28 Catholic Biblical Quarterly 465 477 a href Template Cite journal html title Template Cite journal cite journal a Cite journal requires journal help Bahr Gordon J 1968 The Subscriptions in the Pauline Letters Journal of Biblical Literature 2 1 27 41 doi 10 2307 3263419 JSTOR 3263419 Bauckham Richard J 1988 Pseudo Apostolic Letters Journal of Biblical Literature 107 3 469 494 doi 10 2307 3267581 JSTOR 3267581 Carson D A 2000 Pseudonymity and Pseudepigraphy In Evans Craig A Porter Stanley E eds Dictionary of New Testament Background Downers Grove InterVarsity Press pp 857 864 Cousar Charles B 1996 The Letters of Paul Interpreting Biblical Texts Nashville Abingdon Deissmann G Adolf Bible Studies Trans Alexander Grieve 1901 Peabody Hendrickson 1988 Doty William G Letters in Primitive Christianity Guides to Biblical Scholarship New Testament Ed Dan O Via Jr Philadelphia Fortress 1988 Gamble Harry Y Amanuensis Anchor Bible Dictionary Vol 1 Ed David Noel Freedman New York Doubleday 1992 Haines Eitzen Kim 1998 Girls Trained in Beautiful Writing Female Scribes in Roman Antiquity and Early Christianity Journal of Early Christian Studies 6 4 629 646 doi 10 1353 earl 1998 0071 S2CID 171026920 Longenecker Richard N Ancient Amanuenses and the Pauline Epistles New Dimensions in New Testament Study Eds Richard N Longenecker and Merrill C Tenney Grand Rapids Zondervan 1974 281 97 idem On the Form Function and Authority of the New Testament Letters Scripture and Truth Eds D A Carson and John D Woodbridge Grand Rapids Zondervan 1983 101 14 Murphy O Connor Jerome Paul the Letter Writer His World His Options His Skills Collegeville MN Liturgical 1995 Richards E Randolph The Secretary in the Letters of Paul Tubingen Mohr 1991 idem The Codex and the Early Collection of Paul s Letters Bulletin for Biblical Research 8 1998 151 66 idem Paul and First Century Letter Writing Secretaries Composition and Collection Downers Grove InterVarsity 2004 Robson E Iliff 1917 Composition and Dictation in New Testament Books Journal of Theological Studies 18 288 301 Stowers Stanley K Letter Writing in Greco Roman Antiquity Library of Early Christianity Vol 8 Ed Wayne A Meeks Philadelphia Westminster 1989 Wall Robert W Introduction to Epistolary Literature New Interpreter s Bible Vol 10 Ed Leander E Keck Nashville Abingdon 2002 369 91 External links Edit Look up amanuensis in Wiktionary the free dictionary Quote via Goodreads I d be churched to death bridge partied to death called upon to give book reviews at the Amanuensis Club expected to become a part of the community It takes a lot of what I don t have to be a member of this wedding Harper Lee Go Set a Watchman Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Amanuensis amp oldid 1142260002, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
