Transfer of learning trains a new domain for the classification of search queries according to different tasks, as well as the generation of a corresponding domain-specific query classifier that may be used to classify the search queries according to the different tasks in the new domain. The transfer of learning may include preparing a new domain to receive classification knowledge from one or more source domains by populating the new domain with preliminary query patterns extracted for a search engine log. The transfer of learning may further include preparing the classification knowledge in each source domain for transfer to the new domain. The classification knowledge in each source domain may then be transferred to the new domain.