diff --git a/irc/client.go b/irc/client.go
index af91f03e..99d8df2e 100644
--- a/irc/client.go
+++ b/irc/client.go
@@ -131,6 +131,7 @@ func NewClient(server *Server, conn net.Conn, isTLS bool) {
 		channels:     make(ChannelSet),
 		ctime:        now,
 		flags:        modes.NewModeSet(),
+		languages:    server.Languages().Default(),
 		loginThrottle: connection_limits.GenericThrottle{
 			Duration: config.Accounts.LoginThrottling.Duration,
 			Limit:    config.Accounts.LoginThrottling.MaxAttempts,
@@ -143,7 +144,6 @@ func NewClient(server *Server, conn net.Conn, isTLS bool) {
 		nickMaskString: "*", // * is used until actual nick is given
 		history:        history.NewHistoryBuffer(config.History.ClientLength),
 	}
-	client.languages = server.languages.Default()
 
 	remoteAddr := conn.RemoteAddr()
 	client.realIP = utils.AddrToIP(remoteAddr)
diff --git a/irc/config.go b/irc/config.go
index 112a5387..7adbe678 100644
--- a/irc/config.go
+++ b/irc/config.go
@@ -7,13 +7,11 @@ package irc
 
 import (
 	"crypto/tls"
-	"encoding/json"
 	"fmt"
 	"io/ioutil"
 	"log"
 	"net"
 	"os"
-	"path/filepath"
 	"regexp"
 	"strings"
 	"time"
@@ -283,9 +281,10 @@ type Config struct {
 		Enabled bool
 		Path    string
 		Default string
-		Data    map[string]languages.LangData
 	}
 
+	languageManager *languages.Manager
+
 	Datastore struct {
 		Path        string
 		AutoUpgrade bool
@@ -638,120 +637,9 @@ func LoadConfig(filename string) (config *Config, err error) {
 	}
 	config.Server.MaxSendQBytes = int(maxSendQBytes)
 
-	// get language files
-	config.Languages.Data = make(map[string]languages.LangData)
-	if config.Languages.Enabled {
-		files, err := ioutil.ReadDir(config.Languages.Path)
-		if err != nil {
-			return nil, fmt.Errorf("Could not load language files: %s", err.Error())
-		}
-
-		for _, f := range files {
-			// skip dirs
-			if f.IsDir() {
-				continue
-			}
-
-			// only load core .lang.yaml file, and ignore help/irc files
-			name := f.Name()
-			lowerName := strings.ToLower(name)
-			if !strings.HasSuffix(lowerName, ".lang.yaml") {
-				continue
-			}
-			// don't load our example files in practice
-			if strings.HasPrefix(lowerName, "example") {
-				continue
-			}
-
-			// load core info file
-			data, err = ioutil.ReadFile(filepath.Join(config.Languages.Path, name))
-			if err != nil {
-				return nil, fmt.Errorf("Could not load language file [%s]: %s", name, err.Error())
-			}
-
-			var langInfo languages.LangData
-			err = yaml.Unmarshal(data, &langInfo)
-			if err != nil {
-				return nil, fmt.Errorf("Could not parse language file [%s]: %s", name, err.Error())
-			}
-			langInfo.Translations = make(map[string]string)
-
-			// load actual translation files
-			var tlList map[string]string
-
-			// load irc strings file
-			ircName := strings.TrimSuffix(name, ".lang.yaml") + "-irc.lang.json"
-
-			data, err = ioutil.ReadFile(filepath.Join(config.Languages.Path, ircName))
-			if err == nil {
-				err = json.Unmarshal(data, &tlList)
-				if err != nil {
-					return nil, fmt.Errorf("Could not parse language's irc file [%s]: %s", ircName, err.Error())
-				}
-
-				for key, value := range tlList {
-					// because of how crowdin works, this is how we skip untranslated lines
-					if key == value || value == "" {
-						continue
-					}
-					langInfo.Translations[key] = value
-				}
-			}
-
-			// load help strings file
-			helpName := strings.TrimSuffix(name, ".lang.yaml") + "-help.lang.json"
-
-			data, err = ioutil.ReadFile(filepath.Join(config.Languages.Path, helpName))
-			if err == nil {
-				err = json.Unmarshal(data, &tlList)
-				if err != nil {
-					return nil, fmt.Errorf("Could not parse language's help file [%s]: %s", helpName, err.Error())
-				}
-
-				for key, value := range tlList {
-					// because of how crowdin works, this is how we skip untranslated lines
-					if key == value || value == "" {
-						continue
-					}
-					langInfo.Translations[key] = value
-				}
-			}
-
-			// confirm that values are correct
-			if langInfo.Code == "en" {
-				return nil, fmt.Errorf("Cannot have language file with code 'en' (this is the default language using strings inside the server code). If you're making an English variant, name it with a more specific code")
-			}
-
-			if len(langInfo.Translations) == 0 {
-				// skip empty translations
-				continue
-			}
-
-			if langInfo.Code == "" || langInfo.Name == "" || langInfo.Contributors == "" {
-				return nil, fmt.Errorf("Code, name or contributors is empty in language file [%s]", name)
-			}
-
-			// check for duplicate languages
-			_, exists := config.Languages.Data[strings.ToLower(langInfo.Code)]
-			if exists {
-				return nil, fmt.Errorf("Language code [%s] defined twice", langInfo.Code)
-			}
-
-			// and insert into lang info
-			config.Languages.Data[strings.ToLower(langInfo.Code)] = langInfo
-		}
-
-		// confirm that default language exists
-		if config.Languages.Default == "" {
-			config.Languages.Default = "en"
-		} else {
-			config.Languages.Default = strings.ToLower(config.Languages.Default)
-		}
-
-		_, exists := config.Languages.Data[config.Languages.Default]
-		if config.Languages.Default != "en" && !exists {
-			return nil, fmt.Errorf("Cannot find default language [%s]", config.Languages.Default)
-		}
+	config.languageManager, err = languages.NewManager(config.Languages.Enabled, config.Languages.Path, config.Languages.Default)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("Could not load languages: %s", err.Error())
 	}
 
 	// RecoverFromErrors defaults to true
diff --git a/irc/getters.go b/irc/getters.go
index 1f6ff9cb..863137b7 100644
--- a/irc/getters.go
+++ b/irc/getters.go
@@ -5,13 +5,15 @@ package irc
 
 import (
 	"github.com/oragono/oragono/irc/isupport"
+	"github.com/oragono/oragono/irc/languages"
 	"github.com/oragono/oragono/irc/modes"
 )
 
-func (server *Server) Config() *Config {
+func (server *Server) Config() (config *Config) {
 	server.configurableStateMutex.RLock()
-	defer server.configurableStateMutex.RUnlock()
-	return server.config
+	config = server.config
+	server.configurableStateMutex.RUnlock()
+	return
 }
 
 func (server *Server) ISupport() *isupport.List {
@@ -58,6 +60,10 @@ func (server *Server) GetOperator(name string) (oper *Oper) {
 	return server.config.operators[name]
 }
 
+func (server *Server) Languages() (lm *languages.Manager) {
+	return server.Config().languageManager
+}
+
 func (client *Client) Nick() string {
 	client.stateMutex.RLock()
 	defer client.stateMutex.RUnlock()
@@ -191,6 +197,19 @@ func (client *Client) SetAccountName(account string) (changed bool) {
 	return
 }
 
+func (client *Client) Languages() (languages []string) {
+	client.stateMutex.RLock()
+	languages = client.languages
+	client.stateMutex.RUnlock()
+	return languages
+}
+
+func (client *Client) SetLanguages(languages []string) {
+	client.stateMutex.Lock()
+	client.languages = languages
+	client.stateMutex.Unlock()
+}
+
 func (client *Client) HasMode(mode modes.Mode) bool {
 	// client.flags has its own synch
 	return client.flags.HasMode(mode)
diff --git a/irc/handlers.go b/irc/handlers.go
index dfbf0ac5..68b7080a 100644
--- a/irc/handlers.go
+++ b/irc/handlers.go
@@ -988,11 +988,7 @@ Get an explanation of <argument>, or "index" for a list of help topics.`), rb)
 
 	// handle index
 	if argument == "index" {
-		if client.HasMode(modes.Operator) {
-			client.sendHelp("HELP", GetHelpIndex(client.languages, HelpIndexOpers), rb)
-		} else {
-			client.sendHelp("HELP", GetHelpIndex(client.languages, HelpIndex), rb)
-		}
+		client.sendHelp("HELP", server.helpIndexManager.GetIndex(client.Languages(), client.HasMode(modes.Operator)), rb)
 		return false
 	}
 
@@ -1088,7 +1084,7 @@ func infoHandler(server *Server, client *Client, msg ircmsg.IrcMessage, rb *Resp
 		rb.Add(nil, server.name, RPL_INFO, client.nick, line)
 	}
 	// show translators for languages other than good ole' regular English
-	tlines := server.languages.Translators()
+	tlines := server.Languages().Translators()
 	if 0 < len(tlines) {
 		rb.Add(nil, server.name, RPL_INFO, client.nick, client.t("Translators:"))
 		for _, line := range tlines {
@@ -1422,12 +1418,14 @@ func klineHandler(server *Server, client *Client, msg ircmsg.IrcMessage, rb *Res
 
 // LANGUAGE <code>{ <code>}
 func languageHandler(server *Server, client *Client, msg ircmsg.IrcMessage, rb *ResponseBuffer) bool {
+	nick := client.Nick()
 	alreadyDoneLanguages := make(map[string]bool)
 	var appliedLanguages []string
 
-	supportedLanguagesCount := server.languages.Count()
+	lm := server.Languages()
+	supportedLanguagesCount := lm.Count()
 	if supportedLanguagesCount < len(msg.Params) {
-		rb.Add(nil, client.server.name, ERR_TOOMANYLANGUAGES, client.nick, strconv.Itoa(supportedLanguagesCount), client.t("You specified too many languages"))
+		rb.Add(nil, client.server.name, ERR_TOOMANYLANGUAGES, nick, strconv.Itoa(supportedLanguagesCount), client.t("You specified too many languages"))
 		return false
 	}
 
@@ -1441,9 +1439,9 @@ func languageHandler(server *Server, client *Client, msg ircmsg.IrcMessage, rb *
 			continue
 		}
 
-		_, exists := server.languages.Info[value]
+		_, exists := lm.Languages[value]
 		if !exists {
-			rb.Add(nil, client.server.name, ERR_NOLANGUAGE, client.nick, client.t("Languages are not supported by this server"))
+			rb.Add(nil, client.server.name, ERR_NOLANGUAGE, nick, fmt.Sprintf(client.t("Language %s is not supported by this server"), value))
 			return false
 		}
 
@@ -1456,20 +1454,16 @@ func languageHandler(server *Server, client *Client, msg ircmsg.IrcMessage, rb *
 		appliedLanguages = append(appliedLanguages, value)
 	}
 
-	client.stateMutex.Lock()
-	if len(appliedLanguages) == 1 && appliedLanguages[0] == "en" {
-		// premature optimisation ahoy!
-		client.languages = []string{}
-	} else {
-		client.languages = appliedLanguages
+	var langsToSet []string
+	if !(len(appliedLanguages) == 1 && appliedLanguages[0] == "en") {
+		langsToSet = appliedLanguages
 	}
-	client.stateMutex.Unlock()
+	client.SetLanguages(langsToSet)
 
-	params := []string{client.nick}
-	for _, lang := range appliedLanguages {
-		params = append(params, lang)
-	}
-	params = append(params, client.t("Language preferences have been set"))
+	params := make([]string, len(appliedLanguages)+2)
+	params[0] = nick
+	copy(params[1:], appliedLanguages)
+	params[len(params)-1] = client.t("Language preferences have been set")
 
 	rb.Add(nil, client.server.name, RPL_YOURLANGUAGESARE, params...)
 
diff --git a/irc/help.go b/irc/help.go
index 34de5a31..5bbffa48 100644
--- a/irc/help.go
+++ b/irc/help.go
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import (
 	"fmt"
 	"sort"
 	"strings"
+	"sync"
 
 	"github.com/oragono/oragono/irc/languages"
 )
@@ -603,13 +604,15 @@ func modesTextGenerator(client *Client) string {
 	return client.t(cmodeHelpText) + "\n\n" + client.t(umodeHelpText)
 }
 
-// HelpIndex contains the list of all help topics for regular users.
-var HelpIndex map[string]string
+type HelpIndexManager struct {
+	sync.RWMutex // tier 1
 
-// HelpIndexOpers contains the list of all help topics for opers.
-var HelpIndexOpers map[string]string
+	langToIndex     map[string]string
+	langToOperIndex map[string]string
+}
 
 // GenerateHelpIndex is used to generate HelpIndex.
+// Returns: a map from language code to the help index in that language.
 func GenerateHelpIndex(lm *languages.Manager, forOpers bool) map[string]string {
 	// generate the help entry lists
 	var commands, isupport, information []string
@@ -658,10 +661,7 @@ Information:
 
 	newHelpIndex["en"] = fmt.Sprintf(defaultHelpIndex, commandsString, isupportString, informationString)
 
-	lm.RLock()
-	defer lm.RUnlock()
-
-	for langCode := range lm.Info {
+	for langCode := range lm.Languages {
 		translatedHelpIndex := lm.Translate([]string{langCode}, defaultHelpIndex)
 		if translatedHelpIndex != defaultHelpIndex {
 			newHelpIndex[langCode] = fmt.Sprintf(translatedHelpIndex, commandsString, isupportString, informationString)
@@ -671,22 +671,16 @@ Information:
 	return newHelpIndex
 }
 
-// GenerateHelpIndices generates our help indexes and confirms we have HELP entries for every command.
-func GenerateHelpIndices(lm *languages.Manager) error {
-	// startup check that we have HELP entries for every command
-	if len(HelpIndex) == 0 && len(HelpIndexOpers) == 0 {
-		for name := range Commands {
-			_, exists := Help[strings.ToLower(name)]
-			if !exists {
-				return fmt.Errorf("Help entry does not exist for command %s", name)
-			}
-		}
-	}
-
+// GenerateIndices regenerates our help indexes for each currently enabled language.
+func (hm *HelpIndexManager) GenerateIndices(lm *languages.Manager) {
 	// generate help indexes
-	HelpIndex = GenerateHelpIndex(lm, false)
-	HelpIndexOpers = GenerateHelpIndex(lm, true)
-	return nil
+	langToIndex := GenerateHelpIndex(lm, false)
+	langToOperIndex := GenerateHelpIndex(lm, true)
+
+	hm.Lock()
+	defer hm.Unlock()
+	hm.langToIndex = langToIndex
+	hm.langToOperIndex = langToOperIndex
 }
 
 // sendHelp sends the client help of the given string.
@@ -709,13 +703,30 @@ func (client *Client) sendHelp(name string, text string, rb *ResponseBuffer) {
 }
 
 // GetHelpIndex returns the help index for the given language.
-func GetHelpIndex(languages []string, helpIndex map[string]string) string {
+func (hm *HelpIndexManager) GetIndex(languages []string, oper bool) string {
+	hm.RLock()
+	langToIndex := hm.langToIndex
+	if oper {
+		langToIndex = hm.langToOperIndex
+	}
+	hm.RUnlock()
+
 	for _, lang := range languages {
-		index, exists := helpIndex[lang]
+		index, exists := langToIndex[lang]
 		if exists {
 			return index
 		}
 	}
 	// 'en' always exists
-	return helpIndex["en"]
+	return langToIndex["en"]
+}
+
+func init() {
+	// startup check that we have HELP entries for every command
+	for name := range Commands {
+		_, exists := Help[strings.ToLower(name)]
+		if !exists {
+			panic(fmt.Sprintf("Help entry does not exist for command %s", name))
+		}
+	}
 }
diff --git a/irc/languages/languages.go b/irc/languages/languages.go
index 39d43e73..34a33621 100644
--- a/irc/languages/languages.go
+++ b/irc/languages/languages.go
@@ -4,10 +4,25 @@
 package languages
 
 import (
+	"encoding/json"
 	"fmt"
+	"io/ioutil"
+	"path/filepath"
 	"sort"
+	"strconv"
 	"strings"
-	"sync"
+
+	"gopkg.in/yaml.v2"
+)
+
+const (
+	// for a language (e.g., `fi-FI`) to be supported
+	// it must have a metadata file named, e.g., `fi-FI.lang.yaml`
+	metadataFileSuffix = ".lang.yaml"
+)
+
+var (
+	stringsFileSuffixes = []string{"-irc.lang.json", "-help.lang.json", "-nickserv.lang.json", "-hostserv.lang.json", "-chanserv.lang.json"}
 )
 
 // LangData is the data contained in a language file.
@@ -16,76 +31,144 @@ type LangData struct {
 	Code         string
 	Contributors string
 	Incomplete   bool
-	Translations map[string]string
 }
 
 // Manager manages our languages and provides translation abilities.
 type Manager struct {
-	sync.RWMutex
-	Info         map[string]LangData
+	Languages    map[string]LangData
 	translations map[string]map[string]string
 	defaultLang  string
 }
 
 // NewManager returns a new Manager.
-func NewManager(defaultLang string, languageData map[string]LangData) *Manager {
-	lm := Manager{
-		Info:         make(map[string]LangData),
+func NewManager(enabled bool, path string, defaultLang string) (lm *Manager, err error) {
+	lm = &Manager{
+		Languages:    make(map[string]LangData),
 		translations: make(map[string]map[string]string),
 		defaultLang:  defaultLang,
 	}
 
 	// make fake "en" info
-	lm.Info["en"] = LangData{
+	lm.Languages["en"] = LangData{
 		Code:         "en",
 		Name:         "English",
 		Contributors: "Oragono contributors and the IRC community",
 	}
 
-	// load language data
-	for name, data := range languageData {
-		lm.Info[name] = data
-
-		// make sure we don't include empty translations
-		lm.translations[name] = make(map[string]string)
-		for key, value := range data.Translations {
-			if strings.TrimSpace(value) == "" {
-				continue
+	if enabled {
+		err = lm.loadData(path)
+		if err == nil {
+			// successful load, check that defaultLang is sane
+			_, ok := lm.Languages[lm.defaultLang]
+			if !ok {
+				err = fmt.Errorf("Cannot find default language [%s]", lm.defaultLang)
 			}
-			lm.translations[name][key] = value
 		}
+	} else {
+		lm.defaultLang = "en"
 	}
 
-	return &lm
+	return
+}
+
+func (lm *Manager) loadData(path string) (err error) {
+	files, err := ioutil.ReadDir(path)
+	if err != nil {
+		return
+	}
+
+	// 1. for each language that has a ${langcode}.lang.yaml in the languages path
+	// 2. load ${langcode}.lang.yaml
+	// 3. load ${langcode}-irc.lang.json and friends as the translations
+	for _, f := range files {
+		if f.IsDir() {
+			continue
+		}
+		// glob up *.lang.yaml in the directory
+		name := f.Name()
+		if !strings.HasSuffix(name, metadataFileSuffix) {
+			continue
+		}
+		prefix := strings.TrimSuffix(name, metadataFileSuffix)
+
+		// load, e.g., `zh-CN.lang.yaml`
+		var data []byte
+		data, err = ioutil.ReadFile(filepath.Join(path, name))
+		if err != nil {
+			return
+		}
+		var langInfo LangData
+		err = yaml.Unmarshal(data, &langInfo)
+		if err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+
+		if langInfo.Code == "en" {
+			return fmt.Errorf("Cannot have language file with code 'en' (this is the default language using strings inside the server code). If you're making an English variant, name it with a more specific code")
+		}
+
+		// check for duplicate languages
+		_, exists := lm.Languages[strings.ToLower(langInfo.Code)]
+		if exists {
+			return fmt.Errorf("Language code [%s] defined twice", langInfo.Code)
+		}
+
+		// slurp up all translation files with `prefix` into a single translation map
+		translations := make(map[string]string)
+		for _, translationSuffix := range stringsFileSuffixes {
+			stringsFilePath := filepath.Join(path, prefix+translationSuffix)
+			data, err = ioutil.ReadFile(stringsFilePath)
+			if err != nil {
+				continue // skip missing paths
+			}
+			var tlList map[string]string
+			err = json.Unmarshal(data, &tlList)
+			if err != nil {
+				return fmt.Errorf("invalid json for translation file %s: %s", stringsFilePath, err.Error())
+			}
+
+			for key, value := range tlList {
+				// because of how crowdin works, this is how we skip untranslated lines
+				if key == value || strings.TrimSpace(value) == "" {
+					continue
+				}
+				translations[key] = value
+			}
+		}
+
+		if len(translations) == 0 {
+			// skip empty translations
+			continue
+		}
+
+		// sanity check the language definition from the yaml file
+		if langInfo.Code == "" || langInfo.Name == "" || langInfo.Contributors == "" {
+			return fmt.Errorf("Code, name or contributors is empty in language file [%s]", name)
+		}
+
+		key := strings.ToLower(langInfo.Code)
+		lm.Languages[key] = langInfo
+		lm.translations[key] = translations
+	}
+
+	return nil
 }
 
 // Default returns the default languages.
 func (lm *Manager) Default() []string {
-	lm.RLock()
-	defer lm.RUnlock()
-
-	if lm.defaultLang == "" {
-		return []string{}
-	}
 	return []string{lm.defaultLang}
 }
 
 // Count returns how many languages we have.
 func (lm *Manager) Count() int {
-	lm.RLock()
-	defer lm.RUnlock()
-
-	return len(lm.Info)
+	return len(lm.Languages)
 }
 
 // Translators returns the languages we have and the translators.
 func (lm *Manager) Translators() []string {
-	lm.RLock()
-	defer lm.RUnlock()
-
 	var tlist sort.StringSlice
 
-	for _, info := range lm.Info {
+	for _, info := range lm.Languages {
 		if info.Code == "en" {
 			continue
 		}
@@ -98,12 +181,9 @@ func (lm *Manager) Translators() []string {
 
 // Codes returns the proper language codes for the given casefolded language codes.
 func (lm *Manager) Codes(codes []string) []string {
-	lm.RLock()
-	defer lm.RUnlock()
-
 	var newCodes []string
 	for _, code := range codes {
-		info, exists := lm.Info[code]
+		info, exists := lm.Languages[code]
 		if exists {
 			newCodes = append(newCodes, info.Code)
 		}
@@ -123,9 +203,6 @@ func (lm *Manager) Translate(languages []string, originalString string) string {
 		return originalString
 	}
 
-	lm.RLock()
-	defer lm.RUnlock()
-
 	for _, lang := range languages {
 		lang = strings.ToLower(lang)
 		if lang == "en" {
@@ -149,3 +226,18 @@ func (lm *Manager) Translate(languages []string, originalString string) string {
 	// didn't find any translation
 	return originalString
 }
+
+func (lm *Manager) CapValue() string {
+	langCodes := make([]string, len(lm.Languages)+1)
+	langCodes[0] = strconv.Itoa(len(lm.Languages))
+	i := 1
+	for _, info := range lm.Languages {
+		codeToken := info.Code
+		if info.Incomplete {
+			codeToken = "~" + info.Code
+		}
+		langCodes[i] = codeToken
+		i += 1
+	}
+	return strings.Join(langCodes, ",")
+}
diff --git a/irc/server.go b/irc/server.go
index fdf4f01e..1f2b78f8 100644
--- a/irc/server.go
+++ b/irc/server.go
@@ -25,7 +25,6 @@ import (
 	"github.com/oragono/oragono/irc/caps"
 	"github.com/oragono/oragono/irc/connection_limits"
 	"github.com/oragono/oragono/irc/isupport"
-	"github.com/oragono/oragono/irc/languages"
 	"github.com/oragono/oragono/irc/logger"
 	"github.com/oragono/oragono/irc/modes"
 	"github.com/oragono/oragono/irc/sno"
@@ -76,9 +75,9 @@ type Server struct {
 	connectionThrottler    *connection_limits.Throttler
 	ctime                  time.Time
 	dlines                 *DLineManager
+	helpIndexManager       HelpIndexManager
 	isupport               *isupport.List
 	klines                 *KLineManager
-	languages              *languages.Manager
 	listeners              map[string]*ListenerWrapper
 	logger                 *logger.Manager
 	monitorManager         *MonitorManager
@@ -119,7 +118,6 @@ func NewServer(config *Config, logger *logger.Manager) (*Server, error) {
 		clients:             NewClientManager(),
 		connectionLimiter:   connection_limits.NewLimiter(),
 		connectionThrottler: connection_limits.NewThrottler(),
-		languages:           languages.NewManager(config.Languages.Default, config.Languages.Data),
 		listeners:           make(map[string]*ListenerWrapper),
 		logger:              logger,
 		monitorManager:      NewMonitorManager(),
@@ -137,11 +135,6 @@ func NewServer(config *Config, logger *logger.Manager) (*Server, error) {
 		return nil, err
 	}
 
-	// generate help info
-	if err := GenerateHelpIndices(server.languages); err != nil {
-		return nil, err
-	}
-
 	// Attempt to clean up when receiving these signals.
 	signal.Notify(server.signals, ServerExitSignals...)
 	signal.Notify(server.rehashSignal, syscall.SIGHUP)
@@ -468,11 +461,9 @@ func (server *Server) tryRegister(c *Client) {
 
 // t returns the translated version of the given string, based on the languages configured by the client.
 func (client *Client) t(originalString string) string {
-	// grab this mutex to protect client.languages
-	client.stateMutex.RLock()
-	defer client.stateMutex.RUnlock()
-
-	return client.server.languages.Translate(client.languages, originalString)
+	// TODO(slingamn) investigate a fast path for this, using an atomic load to see if translation is disabled
+	languages := client.Languages()
+	return client.server.Languages().Translate(languages, originalString)
 }
 
 // MOTD serves the Message of the Day.
@@ -536,9 +527,10 @@ func (client *Client) getWhoisOf(target *Client, rb *ResponseBuffer) {
 		rb.Add(nil, client.server.name, RPL_WHOISBOT, cnick, tnick, ircfmt.Unescape(fmt.Sprintf(client.t("is a $bBot$b on %s"), client.server.Config().Network.Name)))
 	}
 
-	if 0 < len(target.languages) {
+	tLanguages := target.Languages()
+	if 0 < len(tLanguages) {
 		params := []string{cnick, tnick}
-		for _, str := range client.server.languages.Codes(target.languages) {
+		for _, str := range client.server.Languages().Codes(tLanguages) {
 			params = append(params, str)
 		}
 		params = append(params, client.t("can speak these languages"))
@@ -655,31 +647,16 @@ func (server *Server) applyConfig(config *Config, initial bool) (err error) {
 	updatedCaps := caps.NewSet()
 
 	// Translations
+	server.logger.Debug("server", "Regenerating HELP indexes for new languages")
+	server.helpIndexManager.GenerateIndices(config.languageManager)
+
 	currentLanguageValue, _ := CapValues.Get(caps.Languages)
-
-	langCodes := []string{strconv.Itoa(len(config.Languages.Data) + 1), "en"}
-	for _, info := range config.Languages.Data {
-		if info.Incomplete {
-			langCodes = append(langCodes, "~"+info.Code)
-		} else {
-			langCodes = append(langCodes, info.Code)
-		}
-	}
-	newLanguageValue := strings.Join(langCodes, ",")
-	server.logger.Debug("server", "Languages:", newLanguageValue)
-
+	newLanguageValue := config.languageManager.CapValue()
 	if currentLanguageValue != newLanguageValue {
 		updatedCaps.Add(caps.Languages)
 		CapValues.Set(caps.Languages, newLanguageValue)
 	}
 
-	lm := languages.NewManager(config.Languages.Default, config.Languages.Data)
-
-	server.logger.Debug("server", "Regenerating HELP indexes for new languages")
-	GenerateHelpIndices(lm)
-
-	server.languages = lm
-
 	// SASL
 	authPreviouslyEnabled := oldConfig != nil && oldConfig.Accounts.AuthenticationEnabled
 	if config.Accounts.AuthenticationEnabled && !authPreviouslyEnabled {