Investigating the English language in Canada
The Strathy Language Unit is a research unit at Queen's University dedicated to the study of the English language in Canada. The unit was founded in 1981 by a bequest from J.R. Strathy, a Queen's alumnus with a lifelong passion for the English language.
At Strathy, we are interested in many aspects of spoken and written English in Canada, including issues such as standardization, dialectal variety, historical change, language and identity and the relationship between English and Canada's other languages — Canadian varieties of French, Indigenous languages and the heritage languages of immigrant communities. We are interested in English as it is used by all speakers throughout the country, not just those from a particular region or with a particular background. The variety we find within communities and throughout the country is in part what makes the study of Canadian English such an engaging one.
We strive to make the unit a valuable resource for scholars of Canadian English and the general public, and we welcome your feedback. The unit is located in Kingston Hall, rooms 306 and 310, on the Queen's University campus. For more information or to arrange a visit, please contact us.