Anamanuensis (/əˌmænjuˈɛnsɪs/ə-MAN-yoo-EN-sis) (pl. amanuenses/əˌmænjuˈɛnsiːz/ə-MAN-yoo-EN-seez) orscribe^[1][2] is a person employed to write or type what another dictates or to copy what has been written by another. It may also be a person who signs a document on behalf of another under the latter's authority.^[3]

In someacademic contexts, an amanuensis can assist aninjured ordisabled person in taking writtenexaminations.Eric Fenby acted as such in assisting the blind and paralysed composerFrederick Delius in writing down thenotes he dictated.^[4]

Inancient Rome, an amanuensis (Latināmanuēnsis, “secretary”, fromab-, “from” +manus, “hand”^[5]) was a slave or freedperson who provided literary and secretarial services such as taking dictation and perhaps assisting in composition.Amanuenses were typically Greek, might be either male or female,^[6] and were among the higher-statusslaves in ancient Rome who were considered to add value^[7] to their masters' lives rather than serving as mere instruments of production.^[8] Literary slaves had certain privileges under the law and could bemanumitted at a younger age.^[9]

Amanuenses played an extensive role in medieval writing and the dissemination of texts.Visionaries in particular relied on amanuenses to translate their experiences into written form.^[10] One question in studies of the Christian mysticMargery Kempe, not known to have received a formal education, is the extent to which her amanuenses shaped her self-titled book, completed in 1438.^[11] The work of the amanuensis when the author was minimally or not literate likely involved taking dictation, reading back, getting feedback from the author for revision, and possibly shaping the text further during transcription.^[12] An amanuensis might bring literary polish to visionary experience, asAdam of Eynsham, for instance, is thought to have drawn on theunderworld book of theAeneid to shape the "rather rambling and confused" visions of his brother Edmund.^[13] An amanuensis might act as a translator as well as transcriber. For example,Petrus of Alvastra (aka Peter Olafsson) wrote down the visions ofBridget of Sweden as she recounted them inSwedish, and then translated them into Latin.^[14]

InFinland, anamanuenssi 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.^[15]

A similar term,Handlanger, exists in German and Dutch. In current times, in both Dutch and German 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 oflending a hand at construction works has become rather rare.^[16]

In French, the term "Écrivain Public" (Public Writer) help people to write personal or professional things according to the client.^[17]

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