The individual or entity responsible for converting texts from Latin, Old English, Anglo-Norman, or other languages into the vernacular during the medieval period facilitated communication and the dissemination of knowledge. For example, a cleric might render a Latin theological treatise into English for a noble patron.
These practitioners played a crucial role in shaping the development of the English language and culture. They enabled wider access to religious, legal, and literary works, contributing significantly to the growth of national identity and the intellectual landscape of the era. Their efforts preserved and transmitted important texts that would otherwise have remained inaccessible to those without specialized linguistic training.