Kinloch, A. Murray

A. Murray Kinloch, son of Alexander and Helen (Stewart) Kinloch, was born in Greenoch, Scotland on April 18th, 1923. Kinloch studied at the University of St. Andrews in St. Andrews, Scotland from 1941-1956. During this time, he received an MA in Classics (1944), an MA with first-class honours in English (1950), and a PhD in Anglo-Saxon (1956). He also served as an assistant lecturer at the University of Hull in Yorkshire in 1952, and taught at the University College of Wales in Cardiganshire from 1954-1959.

In 1959, Dr. Kinloch accepted the position of assistant professor in the Department of English at the University of New Brunswick. In 1972, he became a full professor. After he retired in 1986, he was appointed professor emeritus in 1989. During his years at UNB, Dr. Kinloch did extensive fieldwork and published more than fifty papers in the areas of linguistics, dialectology and the English language, including a co-authored annotated bibliography entitled Writings on Canadian English, 1784-1975. Dr. Kinloch was interested in Canadian English (especially as spoken within the Atlantic Provinces), and how it differed from that of the United States and Britain.

In addition to his classes and academic research, Dr. Kinloch also served on a variety of University committees, and was an active member of several associations involving linguistics, and dialectology. He was president of the American Dialect Society, vice-president of the Atlantic Provinces Linguistics Association, treasurer of the Atlantic Provinces Association of Communication Teachers and trustee for the Hans Kurath Fund for Linguistic Geography. With colleagues from the English Department, he organized a Grammar Hot Line in the early 1980s.

Dr. Kinloch also spent eighteen years in the military service, 1942-1960, initially with the British forces, (Royal Scots, Manchester Regiment, and the Black Watch), before resigning his commission in 1957. After his arrival in Canada, he remained active with the militia (6 Independent Signals Squadron) until 1960. Dr. Kinloch was also well known for his work with the Humane Society and the SPCA.

Dr. Kinloch died suddenly on August 25th, 1993, while returning from a trip to Grand Manan Island. He was survived by his wife, the former Jean Elizabeth Wall.