diff --git a/boilmaster.toml b/boilmaster.toml
index cdbfbb5..31ae481 100644
--- a/boilmaster.toml
+++ b/boilmaster.toml
@@ -18,8 +18,8 @@ limit.depth = 2
 # TODO: should this be shared with search eventually, or nah?
 filter.exdschema.list = "Name,Singular,Icon"
 
-[data]
-language = "en"
+[read.language]
+default = "en"
 
 [version]
 interval = 3600 # 1 hour
diff --git a/src/data/data.rs b/src/data/data.rs
index bdc18eb..9fba5dc 100644
--- a/src/data/data.rs
+++ b/src/data/data.rs
@@ -4,30 +4,15 @@ use std::{
 };
 
 use anyhow::Context;
-use ironworks::{
-	excel::{Excel, Language},
-	sqpack::SqPack,
-	zipatch, Ironworks,
-};
-use serde::Deserialize;
+use ironworks::{excel::Excel, sqpack::SqPack, zipatch, Ironworks};
 use tokio::{select, sync::watch};
 use tokio_util::sync::CancellationToken;
 
 use crate::version::{self, VersionKey};
 
-use super::{
-	error::{Error, Result},
-	language::LanguageString,
-};
-
-#[derive(Debug, Deserialize)]
-pub struct Config {
-	language: LanguageString,
-}
+use super::error::{Error, Result};
 
 pub struct Data {
-	default_language: Language,
-
 	channel: watch::Sender<Vec<VersionKey>>,
 
 	// Root ZiPatch instance, acts as a LUT cache
@@ -37,11 +22,10 @@ pub struct Data {
 }
 
 impl Data {
-	pub fn new(config: Config) -> Self {
+	pub fn new() -> Self {
 		let (sender, _receiver) = watch::channel(vec![]);
 
 		Data {
-			default_language: config.language.into(),
 			channel: sender,
 			zipatch: zipatch::ZiPatch::new().with_persisted_lookups(),
 			versions: Default::default(),
@@ -54,10 +38,6 @@ impl Data {
 		self.versions.read().expect("poisoned").len() > 0
 	}
 
-	pub fn default_language(&self) -> Language {
-		self.default_language
-	}
-
 	pub fn subscribe(&self) -> watch::Receiver<Vec<VersionKey>> {
 		self.channel.subscribe()
 	}
diff --git a/src/data/error.rs b/src/data/error.rs
index 1665db5..f8fbd3b 100644
--- a/src/data/error.rs
+++ b/src/data/error.rs
@@ -5,9 +5,6 @@ pub enum Error {
 	#[error("unknown version {0}")]
 	UnknownVersion(VersionKey),
 
-	#[error("unknown language \"{0}\"")]
-	UnknownLanguage(String),
-
 	#[error(transparent)]
 	Failure(#[from] anyhow::Error),
 }
diff --git a/src/data/mod.rs b/src/data/mod.rs
index 0fd3dfa..9c9e632 100644
--- a/src/data/mod.rs
+++ b/src/data/mod.rs
@@ -1,9 +1,7 @@
 mod data;
 mod error;
-mod language;
 
 pub use {
-	data::{Config, Data, Version},
+	data::{Data, Version},
 	error::Error,
-	language::LanguageString,
 };
diff --git a/src/http/api1/error.rs b/src/http/api1/error.rs
index bca1d0b..ee07e35 100644
--- a/src/http/api1/error.rs
+++ b/src/http/api1/error.rs
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ impl From<data::Error> for Error {
 	fn from(error: data::Error) -> Self {
 		use data::Error as DE;
 		match error {
-			DE::UnknownVersion(..) | DE::UnknownLanguage(..) => Self::Invalid(error.to_string()),
+			DE::UnknownVersion(..) => Self::Invalid(error.to_string()),
 			DE::Failure(inner) => Self::Other(inner),
 		}
 	}
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ impl From<read::Error> for Error {
 		use read::Error as RE;
 		match error {
 			RE::NotFound(..) => Self::NotFound(error.to_string()),
-			RE::FilterSchemaMismatch(..) | RE::SchemaGameMismatch(..) => {
+			RE::FilterSchemaMismatch(..) | RE::SchemaGameMismatch(..) | RE::InvalidLanguage(..) => {
 				Self::Invalid(error.to_string())
 			}
 			RE::Failure(inner) => Self::Other(inner),
diff --git a/src/http/api1/filter.rs b/src/http/api1/filter.rs
index d27eb3d..0ef933f 100644
--- a/src/http/api1/filter.rs
+++ b/src/http/api1/filter.rs
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ use nom::{
 use schemars::JsonSchema;
 use serde::{de, Deserialize};
 
-use crate::{data, read};
+use crate::read;
 
 use super::error;
 
@@ -196,7 +196,7 @@ fn index(input: &str) -> IResult<&str, Entry> {
 fn language(input: &str) -> IResult<&str, excel::Language> {
 	map_res(alphanumeric1, |string: &str| {
 		string
-			.parse::<data::LanguageString>()
+			.parse::<read::LanguageString>()
 			.map(excel::Language::from)
 	})(input)
 }
diff --git a/src/http/api1/sheet.rs b/src/http/api1/sheet.rs
index 8c3513e..c1f0aa2 100644
--- a/src/http/api1/sheet.rs
+++ b/src/http/api1/sheet.rs
@@ -15,7 +15,6 @@ use schemars::{
 use serde::{de, Deserialize, Deserializer, Serialize};
 
 use crate::{
-	data::LanguageString,
 	http::service,
 	read, schema,
 	utility::{anyhow::Anyhow, jsonschema::impl_jsonschema},
@@ -145,7 +144,7 @@ fn rowspecifier_schema(_generator: &mut SchemaGenerator) -> Schema {
 struct SheetQuery {
 	// Data resolution
 	/// Language to use for data with no language otherwise specified in the fields filter.
-	language: Option<LanguageString>,
+	language: Option<read::LanguageString>,
 
 	/// Schema that row data should be read with.
 	schema: Option<schema::Specifier>,
@@ -247,6 +246,7 @@ async fn sheet(
 	VersionQuery(version_key): VersionQuery,
 	Query(query): Query<SheetQuery>,
 	State(data): State<service::Data>,
+	State(read): State<service::Read>,
 	State(schema_provider): State<service::Schema>,
 	Extension(config): Extension<Config>,
 ) -> Result<impl IntoApiResponse> {
@@ -256,7 +256,7 @@ async fn sheet(
 	let language = query
 		.language
 		.map(excel::Language::from)
-		.unwrap_or_else(|| data.default_language());
+		.unwrap_or_else(|| read.default_language());
 
 	// TODO: Consider extractor for this.
 	let schema_specifier = schema_provider.canonicalize(query.schema, version_key)?;
@@ -318,7 +318,7 @@ async fn sheet(
 
 		// TODO: This is pretty wasteful to call inside a loop, revisit actual read logic.
 		// TODO: at the moment, an unknown row specifier will cause excel to error with a NotFound (which is fine), however read:: then squashes that with anyhow, meaning the error gets hidden in a 500 ISE. revisit error handling in read:: while i'm at it ref. the above.
-		let fields = read::read(
+		let fields = read.read(
 			&excel,
 			schema.as_ref(),
 			&path.sheet,
@@ -362,7 +362,7 @@ struct RowPath {
 #[derive(Deserialize, JsonSchema)]
 struct RowQuery {
 	/// Language to use for data with no language otherwise specified in the fields filter.
-	language: Option<LanguageString>,
+	language: Option<read::LanguageString>,
 
 	/// Schema that row data should be read with.
 	schema: Option<schema::Specifier>,
@@ -422,6 +422,7 @@ async fn row(
 	VersionQuery(version_key): VersionQuery,
 	Query(query): Query<RowQuery>,
 	State(data): State<service::Data>,
+	State(read): State<service::Read>,
 	State(schema_provider): State<service::Schema>,
 	Extension(config): Extension<Config>,
 ) -> Result<impl IntoApiResponse> {
@@ -430,7 +431,7 @@ async fn row(
 	let language = query
 		.language
 		.map(excel::Language::from)
-		.unwrap_or_else(|| data.default_language());
+		.unwrap_or_else(|| read.default_language());
 
 	let schema_specifier = schema_provider.canonicalize(query.schema, version_key)?;
 
@@ -450,7 +451,7 @@ async fn row(
 	let row_id = path.row.row_id;
 	let subrow_id = path.row.subrow_id;
 
-	let fields = read::read(
+	let fields = read.read(
 		&excel,
 		schema.as_ref(),
 		&path.sheet,
diff --git a/src/http/api1/value.rs b/src/http/api1/value.rs
index 88dd306..2d4e539 100644
--- a/src/http/api1/value.rs
+++ b/src/http/api1/value.rs
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ use schemars::{
 };
 use serde::ser::{Serialize, SerializeMap, SerializeSeq, SerializeStruct};
 
-use crate::{data, read, utility::jsonschema::impl_jsonschema};
+use crate::{read, utility::jsonschema::impl_jsonschema};
 
 #[derive(Debug)]
 pub struct ValueString(pub read::Value, pub excel::Language);
@@ -155,7 +155,7 @@ impl ValueReference<'_> {
 			.map(|(read::StructKey { name, language }, value)| {
 				let key = match *language == self.language {
 					true => name.to_owned(),
-					false => format!("{name}@{}", data::LanguageString::from(*language)),
+					false => format!("{name}@{}", read::LanguageString::from(*language)),
 				};
 
 				(key, value)
diff --git a/src/http/http.rs b/src/http/http.rs
index 949d6fa..86ca404 100644
--- a/src/http/http.rs
+++ b/src/http/http.rs
@@ -27,8 +27,9 @@ pub struct Config {
 pub async fn serve(
 	cancel: CancellationToken,
 	config: Config,
-	data: service::Data,
 	asset: service::Asset,
+	data: service::Data,
+	read: service::Read,
 	schema: service::Schema,
 	// search: service::Search,
 	version: service::Version,
@@ -49,6 +50,7 @@ pub async fn serve(
 		.with_state(service::State {
 			asset,
 			data,
+			read,
 			schema,
 			// search,
 			version,
diff --git a/src/http/service.rs b/src/http/service.rs
index ba8c600..737f46c 100644
--- a/src/http/service.rs
+++ b/src/http/service.rs
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ use axum::extract::FromRef;
 use crate::{
 	asset,
 	data,
+	read,
 	schema,
 	// search,
 	version,
@@ -12,6 +13,7 @@ use crate::{
 
 pub type Asset = Arc<asset::Service>;
 pub type Data = Arc<data::Data>;
+pub type Read = Arc<read::Read>;
 pub type Schema = Arc<schema::Provider>;
 // pub type Search = Arc<search::Search>;
 pub type Version = Arc<version::Manager>;
@@ -20,6 +22,7 @@ pub type Version = Arc<version::Manager>;
 pub struct State {
 	pub asset: Asset,
 	pub data: Data,
+	pub read: Read,
 	pub schema: Schema,
 	// pub search: Search,
 	pub version: Version,
diff --git a/src/lib.rs b/src/lib.rs
index 019059d..046c804 100644
--- a/src/lib.rs
+++ b/src/lib.rs
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 pub mod asset;
 pub mod data;
 pub mod http;
-mod read;
+pub mod read;
 pub mod schema;
 // pub mod search;
 pub mod tracing;
diff --git a/src/main.rs b/src/main.rs
index 5019181..2b65821 100644
--- a/src/main.rs
+++ b/src/main.rs
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ use boilmaster::{
 	asset,
 	data,
 	http,
+	read,
 	schema,
 	// search,
 	tracing,
@@ -23,7 +24,7 @@ use tokio_util::sync::CancellationToken;
 struct Config {
 	// tracing: tracing::Config, - read individually.
 	http: http::Config,
-	data: data::Config,
+	read: read::Config,
 	version: version::Config,
 	schema: schema::Config,
 	// search: search::Config,
@@ -54,8 +55,9 @@ async fn main() -> anyhow::Result<()> {
 	let version = Arc::new(
 		version::Manager::new(config.version).context("failed to create version manager")?,
 	);
-	let data = Arc::new(data::Data::new(config.data));
+	let data = Arc::new(data::Data::new());
 	let asset = Arc::new(asset::Service::new(data.clone()));
+	let read = Arc::new(read::Read::new(config.read));
 	let schema = Arc::new(
 		schema::Provider::new(config.schema, data.clone())
 			.context("failed to create schema provider")?,
@@ -78,8 +80,9 @@ async fn main() -> anyhow::Result<()> {
 		http::serve(
 			shutdown_token,
 			config.http,
-			data.clone(),
 			asset,
+			data.clone(),
+			read,
 			schema.clone(),
 			// search.clone(),
 			version.clone(),
diff --git a/src/read/error.rs b/src/read/error.rs
index 3ee951f..5ba8f88 100644
--- a/src/read/error.rs
+++ b/src/read/error.rs
@@ -4,6 +4,9 @@ pub enum Error {
 	#[error("{0}")]
 	NotFound(String),
 
+	#[error("invalid or unsupported language \"{0}\"")]
+	InvalidLanguage(String),
+
 	/// The provided filter does not map cleanly onto the sheet schema.
 	#[error("filter <-> schema mismatch on {}: {}", .0.field, .0.reason)]
 	FilterSchemaMismatch(MismatchError),
diff --git a/src/read/filter.rs b/src/read/filter.rs
index 4858d35..35b5bf4 100644
--- a/src/read/filter.rs
+++ b/src/read/filter.rs
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ pub enum Filter {
 	All,
 }
 
+// TODO: Merge with LanguageString?
 #[derive(Debug, Clone, PartialEq, Eq, Hash)]
 pub struct Language(pub excel::Language);
 impl IsEnabled for Language {}
diff --git a/src/data/language.rs b/src/read/language.rs
similarity index 97%
rename from src/data/language.rs
rename to src/read/language.rs
index 2005c7c..cd2b633 100644
--- a/src/data/language.rs
+++ b/src/read/language.rs
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ impl FromStr for LanguageString {
 			"chs" => Language::ChineseSimplified,
 			"cht" => Language::ChineseTraditional,
 			"kr" => Language::Korean,
-			_ => return Err(Error::UnknownLanguage(string.into())),
+			_ => return Err(Error::InvalidLanguage(string.into())),
 		};
 
 		Ok(Self(language))
diff --git a/src/read/mod.rs b/src/read/mod.rs
index 600f315..56d8990 100644
--- a/src/read/mod.rs
+++ b/src/read/mod.rs
@@ -1,11 +1,13 @@
 mod error;
 mod filter;
+mod language;
 mod read;
 mod value;
 
 pub use {
 	error::Error,
 	filter::{Filter, Language},
-	read::read,
+	language::LanguageString,
+	read::{Config, Read},
 	value::{Reference, StructKey, Value},
 };
diff --git a/src/read/read.rs b/src/read/read.rs
index 08d43f3..fa7356f 100644
--- a/src/read/read.rs
+++ b/src/read/read.rs
@@ -9,44 +9,73 @@ use anyhow::{anyhow, Context};
 use ironworks::{excel, file::exh};
 use ironworks_schema as schema;
 use nohash_hasher::IntMap;
+use serde::Deserialize;
 
 use crate::read::Language;
 
 use super::{
 	error::{Error, MismatchError, Result},
 	filter::Filter,
+	language::LanguageString,
 	value::{Reference, StructKey, Value},
 };
 
-pub fn read(
-	excel: &excel::Excel,
-	schema: &dyn schema::Schema,
+#[derive(Debug, Deserialize)]
+pub struct Config {
+	language: LanguageConfig,
+}
 
-	sheet_name: &str,
-	row_id: u32,
-	subrow_id: u16,
+#[derive(Debug, Deserialize)]
+struct LanguageConfig {
+	default: LanguageString,
+}
 
+pub struct Read {
 	default_language: excel::Language,
+}
 
-	filter: &Filter,
-	depth: u8,
-) -> Result<Value> {
-	let value = read_sheet(ReaderContext {
-		excel,
-		schema,
+impl Read {
+	pub fn new(config: Config) -> Self {
+		Self {
+			default_language: config.language.default.into(),
+		}
+	}
+
+	pub fn default_language(&self) -> excel::Language {
+		self.default_language
+	}
 
-		sheet: sheet_name,
-		language: default_language,
-		row_id,
-		subrow_id,
+	pub fn read(
+		&self,
+		excel: &excel::Excel,
+		schema: &dyn schema::Schema,
 
-		filter,
-		rows: &mut HashMap::new(),
-		columns: &[],
-		depth,
-	})?;
+		sheet_name: &str,
+		row_id: u32,
+		subrow_id: u16,
 
-	Ok(value)
+		default_language: excel::Language,
+
+		filter: &Filter,
+		depth: u8,
+	) -> Result<Value> {
+		let value = read_sheet(ReaderContext {
+			excel,
+			schema,
+
+			sheet: sheet_name,
+			language: default_language,
+			row_id,
+			subrow_id,
+
+			filter,
+			rows: &mut HashMap::new(),
+			columns: &[],
+			depth,
+		})?;
+
+		Ok(value)
+	}
 }
 
 fn read_sheet(context: ReaderContext) -> Result<Value> {