Scrivener Information
A scrivener (or scribe) was traditionally a person who could read and write. This usually indicated secretarial and administrative duties such as dictation and keeping business, judicial, and history records for kings, nobles, temples, and cities. Scriveners later developed into public servants, accountants, lawyers and petition writers, etc.
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Current role
Scriveners remain a common sight in countries where literacy rates remain low; they read letters for illiterate customers, as well as write letters or fill out forms for a fee. Many now use portable typewriters to prepare letters for their clients.
Etymology
The word comes from Middle English scriveiner, an alteration of obsolete scrivein, from Anglo-French escrivein, ultimately from Vulgate Latin *scriban-, scriba, alteration of Latin scriba (as scribe).
In Japan, the word "scrivener" (書士, shoshi?) is used to refer to legal professions such as judicial scriveners and administrative scriveners.
In the Irish language a "scríbhneoir" is a writer, or a person who writes. It has nearly exactly the same pronunciation as the English word "scrivener".
In ancient times, a scrivener was also called a calligraphus (pl. calligraphi).
A scrivener is also someone who scribbles. See scribe.
In literature
A famous work of fiction featuring scriveners is the short story "Bartleby, the Scrivener" by Herman Melville, first published in 1853.
Scrivener notaries
Scrivener notary tasks generally range from:
- authentication and drafting of legal documents for use overseas
- legalization of documents
- shipping law
- trademarks and patents
- business start-up and corporate administration
- purchase and sale of overseas real property
- inheritance
- wills and trusts
- work and residence permits
- bills of exchange
- ballots (new issues); stock and bond redemption
- construction project tendering
- exchange control and foreign investment formalities
- translation or certification of translation
Categories: Writing occupations
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