Myrna Gopnik facts for kids

Myrna Lee Gopnik, born in 1935 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is a Canadian linguist. A linguist is a scientist who studies human language. She is a retired professor of linguistics at McGill University in Canada. Professor Gopnik is well-known for her important work on the KE family. This is an English family where many members had trouble with speech and language.

Studying Language and the KE Family

Professor Gopnik was one of the first to study the KE family closely. She helped scientists around the world learn about this family. Her research showed how some people can have specific difficulties with language. This means they might struggle to speak clearly or understand words.

The FOXP2 Gene Discovery

Later, other scientists, including Anthony Monaco and Simon Fisher from the University of Oxford, continued this research. They found a special gene called FOXP2. They discovered that a small change in this gene was linked to the language difficulties seen in the KE family. This was a big step in understanding how genes can affect our ability to speak and learn language.

Myrna Gopnik's Family Life

Myrna Gopnik is married to Irwin Gopnik, who is an English professor. They have six children together. Some of their children have also become very successful in their own fields.

Her Accomplished Children

• Alison Gopnik is a professor of developmental psychology at the University of California, Berkeley. She studies how children learn and grow.
• Adam Gopnik is a well-known writer and novelist. He writes for The New Yorker magazine.
• Blake Gopnik is an art critic. He writes about art and artists.