Helms of Comprehending Language were infused with Divination magic which granted their wearers a temporary understanding of any language heard. The magic also allowed them to understand languages signed or read, provided the wearer remained in contact with the written surface; a page took roughly a minute to parse. The effect extended only to literal meaning, leaving ciphers and hidden symbols untouched.
Modest and reliable, the helms were favored by diplomats and archivists over flashier alternatives, and Adventurers who did not know the ancient languages of places they were unearthing.