Talk:English rose (epithet)

Latest comment: 8 days ago by 2600:1700:EA01:1090:BD4B:749B:E1FA:3817 in topic List of examples

Requested move I edit

The following discussion is an archived discussion of a requested move. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made in a new section on the talk page. Editors desiring to contest the closing decision should consider a move review. No further edits should be made to this section.

The result of the move request was: not moved. OK, so the article has been split which everyone agrees was a good move. There's a consensus against moving this to the primary topic, but no real agreement on what disambiguation should be used. As this RM is a bit messy, mixing a few different issues, I'll close this and then start a new RM for the only unresolved question – what should the disambiguator be? Jenks24 (talk) 13:56, 11 August 2014 (UTC)Reply



English rose (personal description)English rose – or, as an alternative to this change, please mediate on the content of English Rose. This page has history including a change from Revision as of 1 May 2009 (so as to remove the suggested central definition of the term) to Revision as of 9 May 2009 (which was later changed, returning primary definition to the page at a late stage in "other" in an edit that also relegating a secondary topic to same level) in: Revision as of 4 October 2012. English rose (personal description) was effectively was created on 29 July 2014‎ as a substantial edit of English Rose and this was done so as to apply WP:PRIMARYTOPIC. All dictionaries indicate the content of English rose (personal description) as being the primary definition of the term, (ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5). Content that had been at English Rose was either moved to English Rose (disambiguation) or was incorporated into the main page. Other points of view can also be considered. An editor at Talk:English_Rose asserted that, "English Rose usually refers to one of England's national emblems, the Tudor Rose" but this topic already has its own page. I am also uncertain about the potential validities of a horticultural and a national symbol definition of the term. However, I have developed a substantial content on the horticultural description as Floral reference of the "English rose". A potential national symbol interpretation of English Rose might include reference to the Tudor Rose, to the red rose and to emblems such as that of England's Rugby Football Union's national team. (Is it possible that both name spaces "English rose" and "English Rose" might be used?) The three definitions that I have mentioned seem to be to be the most notable definitions of "English R/rose" and I wondered whether a second definition could occupy the capitalised space. - but, whatever decision you come to, please help with the disambiguation page. I can't see why a recording by the Jam which was never released as a single is placed above actual definitions of the term. Gregkaye (talk) 17:36, 31 July 2014 (UTC)Reply

Split apart edit

  Done {{split}} This article is currently a conflation of two different concepts, the description of a person, and the moniker for a flower. These two should not be contained in a single article, as they are not closely related concepts. Therefore this article needs to be split into two, one about flowers, the other about Englishwomen. -- 65.94.169.222 (talk) 06:33, 1 August 2014 (UTC)Reply

  • Sounds fine to me and will be happy to get on and do it. I had basically started with the topic in terms of personal description and carried on. PLEASE HELP with thoughts on title of second topic: "English Rose (???)" or just "English Rose" Gregkaye (talk) 13:37, 1 August 2014 (UTC)Reply
  • Yes, the multiple images of particular roses that are currently on this page don't belong. As the disambiguation page English Rose states, the term is used by David C.H. Austin for his creations, a list that is up to him to define, so collecting other sources that state such-and-such a rose cultivar is an English Rose isn't particularly appropriate either. I'd suggest "English Rose (Austin Rose)" as a name for the second page. They are often called Austin Roses by other nurseries that grow and sell them. There is already considerable content at Garden_roses#English_.2F_David_Austin and at David C.H. Austin which should be integrated, I presume by making one longer page that would then be cross-referenced at both those places with Template:Main. There is also a substantial collection of photos at commons.wikimedia. Sminthopsis84 (talk) 14:19, 1 August 2014 (UTC)Reply
  • true but it is also possible for a person other than David Austin may cultivate a rose that they may want to define as English. Perhaps this has already been done: http://www.coblands.co.uk/plants/379/Plants/Roses-English-Rose . Gregkaye (talk) 14:49, 1 August 2014 (UTC) and, sorry, I had not seen the suggestion placed further down the article screen. English Rose (flower) keeps it simple.Reply

A change of the main section to English rose (person) was originally suggested. I was concerned that this might be interpreted as a person called English rose. Gregkaye (talk) 16:41, 1 August 2014 (UTC)Reply

We can't have an article as a primary topic just because we can't think of a good disambiguator. The problem is that this is basically a slightly expanded dictionary definition with a few examples. It's not a lot more than a simile. That's why there's no obvious disambiguator. The one that exists is probably the best bet. Bretonbanquet (talk) 12:32, 2 August 2014 (UTC)Reply
I also think that we cannot make one of the pages the primary topic. Another option for "personal description" might be English rose (appellation). --Tryptofish (talk) 21:42, 2 August 2014 (UTC)Reply
To clarify on English rose (the flower), the term is widely used to describe David Austin's roses – he began experimenting in the 1960s and then branding them as 'English Roses' in the 1980s (so says the Royal Horticultural Society Encyclopaedia of Roses). At this point in time, I don't think any other rose grower would lay claim to the name as they originated from a distinct breeding technique – backcrossing old roses, leanders, etc with later varieties to produce a set of characteristics related to repeat flowering, and so on. This link http://www.coblands.co.uk/plants/379/Plants/Roses-English-Rose shows roses that were all bred by Austin and Coblands is offering them as a retailer. I'd say the current disambiguation is about right. Libby norman (talk) 16:45, 3 August 2014 (UTC)Reply
Thanks Libby, that's really helpful. I have placed the gallery of images to follow the listing at: David C.H. Austin#"English Rose" a section which begins with a List of Austin Cultivars and is followed by a Selection of images. If anyone else has other ideas of the use of the material, feel free.... I no idea that he had produced so many roses before working through the first of the sections. Gregkaye (talk) 20:00, 4 August 2014 (UTC)Reply
The split is much better so thanks User talk:Gregkaye. There may be justification for taking the roses out of the main David Austin page and creating a separate page on English Roses (flower), using some of the gallery images. I'll have a think and look at the rose guides and info I have and maybe discuss with other editors who have worked on rose pages on Wiki. The nursery has been developing cultivars since the 1960s and the catalogue is huge, especially when you look at the backlist. The roses are also bred under licence in the US, Australia, etc, so not just an English thing. Libby norman (talk) 21:16, 4 August 2014 (UTC)Reply

The above discussion is preserved as an archive of a requested move. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made in a new section on this talk page or in a move review. No further edits should be made to this section.

A Renaissance rose please edit

In the Merrie England text Walter Raleigh is in love with a maid of Elizabeth I. I think it would be appropriate if an appropriate renaissance or Elizabethan image could be used in the initial picture. Sorry Kelly :) Gregkaye (talk) 21:00, 4 August 2014 (UTC)Reply

Requested move II edit

The following discussion is an archived discussion of a requested move. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made in a new section on the talk page. No further edits should be made to this section.

Closed as moved to English rose (epithet); this is a thorny one, but it appears to be generally accepted as the least bad option, once "people" is eliminated (which can not be used as that is generally reserved for designations of distinct cultural groups). bd2412 T 16:40, 9 September 2014 (UTC)Reply

English rose (personal description)English rose (personage) – Procedural nomination, see the RM two sections above. The only unresolved question from that discussion was what disambiguation should be used for this topic, with several suggestions but no firm outcome. I am neutral and selected "English rose (personage)" as the proposed title as it seemed to have the most support above, but certainly not enough to call it a consensus. Other suggestions were English rose (personality), English rose (people), English rose (appellation) and of course keeping it at the current title. There was also a question about whether the plural of "personage" should be used. Pinging the editors involved in the previous discussion: Gregkaye, 65.94.169.222, Sminthopsis84, Tryptofish, Bretonbanquet, Libby norman. Jenks24 (talk) 14:05, 11 August 2014 (UTC)Reply

  • That second definition seems to fit with the English rose (concept associated with people) interpretation which seems relatively vague. On the one hand I see that the word "people" is the term with the greater currency in the English language but on the other hand the terms "appellation", "epithet" and "personal description" are more specific in their meanings. Gregkaye (talk) 02:26, 14 August 2014 (UTC)Reply
I still by far prefer appellation and have also recognised problems with people. As Tryptofish astutely relates: English rose (concept associated with some people). More specifically (as in the dictionary ref/article) the term originated as Basil Hood describe a garden where 'women are the flowers' and in which 'the sweetest blossom' or 'fairest queen' is 'the perfect English rose'. The origin did not merely relate to people but, to connect to the fair skin reference, to the cream.
When I set up the categorisation I used were: Category:Beauty, Category:English women, Category:Figures of speech and Category:Physical attractiveness. There is a Category:People and its contents seem very unlike this page.
While "people" is precise enough to meet the very basic Wikipedia standards I think that a definition can do far better and, for me, its between appellation and personal description. The two strengths of appellation are it sounds posh, poetic (and "stuff" like that) and it ends in -tion and is word that defines action. A description is an active thing. People will know that the title English rose is doing something and they may get the feeling that it is doing something potentially classy. At the other extreme one definition of people is the members of a society without special rank or position, with synonyms: the proletariat, the common people, the masses, the populace, the multitude, the rank and file, the commonality, the commonalty, the plebeians, the crowd; derogatorythe hoi polloi, the common herd, the rabble, the mob, the riff-raff, the great unwashed. It doesn't suit. Personal description is not only personal, making it far more specific than "people" and also with a suggestion of qualities, and states "description" as well. Back on the topic of appellation I think that it only applies best to a limited number of terms. For instance people wouldn't normally regard the words skivvy or maid to be appellations. But appellation does apply well to "English rose". The other definition of appellation relates to vine groves that parallels an application to English rose really well. The fact that Wikipedia is not (officially) a dictionary also helps. No concern need be given that appellation may not be suited to describe other descriptions. Wikipedia articles aren't normally about descriptions so consistency in WP:CRITERIA has no important at all. There aren't going to be many other dictionary definitions in Wikipedia. I was the person that created and developed almost all the article content and hope that carries some weight. Support English rose (personal description) for understandability and secondly English rose (appellation) for specific relevance. Oppose English rose (people). Gregkaye (talk) 19:48, 18 August 2014 (UTC)Reply
When I referred to that longer page title, I was doing it facetiously, because I see it as unworkable. Although I already said that I could go along with "appellation" as a second choice, I think that posh-ness is a weak rationale for choosing it over "people". Wikipedia page names should be direct and uncomplicated unless there is a compelling reason to the contrary. A desire for posh-ness is not compelling. "People" is entirely logical and appropriate, unless one over-thinks it. --Tryptofish (talk) 20:04, 18 August 2014 (UTC)Reply
true Tryptofish, facetiously but accurate. I appreciate that WP:PRECISION just requires a result somewhere in the ball park. Its just in this case I think its on the wrong side of the park. My objection is on similar grounds that "people" is general whereas English rose is not. I personally did not think that there was much difference between other terms in which case even an admittedly weak argument counts for something. Sorry this has come up late. Appellation is great. Gregkaye (talk) 20:34, 18 August 2014 (UTC)Reply
I now have this discussion on my watchlist, so you don't need to ping me. I somewhat prefer "people" over "appellation", but I'm not that opinionated about it. But I disagree that "people" is general in this case. "People" as a word without modification is general. But as a modifier of "English rose", put in parentheses just after it, it is abundantly clear that it is a subset of all the people on earth. --Tryptofish (talk) 20:52, 18 August 2014 (UTC)Reply
  • Support, in order:
--SmokeyJoe (talk) 07:18, 26 August 2014 (UTC)Reply
  • SmokeyJoe one thing that Tryptofish pointed out that hadn't occurred to me was that Epithet has negative connotations - second para: "In contemporary usage, epithet often refers to an abusive, defamatory, or derogatory phrase, such as a racial epithet". I have never been that keen on "personal description" due I guess to clunkiness but that would be my second choice. I still prefer English rose (appellation). Gregkaye (talk) 09:53, 26 August 2014 (UTC)Reply
I don't think I've ever participated in a discussion where this much prose was devoted to something this trivial, but I think that any oddness about "people" disappears as soon as one looks at the page: it's full of pictures of people. I still feel that "epithet" does not work. Trying to think of some more options, perhaps either "descriptor" or "women" could be possibilities. --Tryptofish (talk) 14:01, 26 August 2014 (UTC)Reply
Still Support English rose (appellation), my first choice since 12 August Gregkaye (talk) 14:22, 26 August 2014 (UTC)Reply
Disagree that epithet has negative connotations, that is an overstatement. Yes, epithets are often used negatively, and these are remarked upon as such, but epithets are far from necessarily negative. For examples, see Category:Epithets. --SmokeyJoe (talk) 23:56, 26 August 2014 (UTC)Reply
The category info, while really interesting to me personally, shouldn't be given too much credence in this discussion. In Wikipedia categories are rssentially hooks that stuff gets hung on for want of better options. These hooks are also limited in number and range: Category:Names. I wasn't previously aware of the negative connotations of the word but they are there: Google search on: epithet definition. Gregkaye (talk) 02:52, 27 August 2014 (UTC)Reply
I agree with Gregkaye on that point, and I would feel very uncomfortable about going with "epithet". To use a non-Wikipedia source, Merriam-Webster gives two definitions, the first of which is the usage that SmokeyJoe is citing, and the second of which is the one that concerns me. That second definition is obviously not the only definition, but it's used sufficiently widely that I feel strongly that we can do better here. At this point in the discussion, I can support English rose (people), English rose (women), English rose (appellation), or English rose (descriptor), and I have reservations about the other possibilities that have been discussed. --Tryptofish (talk) 00:26, 28 August 2014 (UTC)Reply
I am not persuaded by by your reluctance for "epithet" and it remains my first preference for the reasons already given. Agree with "It's only considered derogatory by people who don't know what the word means" said above. English rose (descriptor) I'll insert into second place. The first meaning of "epithet" is essentially "descriptor". Given that others don't like "epithet", I suggest that English rose (descriptor) be seriously considered. --SmokeyJoe (talk) 01:16, 28 August 2014 (UTC)Reply
Well, epithet does have a second meaning, whereas descriptor does not. --Tryptofish (talk) 01:25, 28 August 2014 (UTC)Reply
:) Back on the Dr Who descriptions we have gone from the English rose (people) to the English rose (descriptor). All the same this second choice has a simple functional excellence. I still like English rose (appellation) for its horticultural flavour and suggestion of quality but it lacks the currency of descriptor. I am happy for admin to make a choice. They both seem to be good options. Gregkaye (talk) 17:19, 28 August 2014 (UTC)Reply

@Sminthopsis84:, @Bretonbanquet:, @Libby norman:, @Jenks24:, My understanding is that it's basically a tie break. I'm sure admin would appreciate it if the balance can be tipped one way or the other.

SmokeyJoe, Tryptofish and I have all made nods to both suggestions. Over to you I hope. Gregkaye (talk) 22:24, 30 August 2014 (UTC)Reply

If "epithet" is still not popular, then I prefer "descriptor" to "appellation", although I'm not strongly moved either way. Bretonbanquet (talk) 22:56, 30 August 2014 (UTC)Reply
  • I put the two suggestions that we had all, in my words, "given nods to" and stated: "My understanding is that it's basically a tie break".
SmokeyJoe had supported: "1st: English rose (epithet)... 2nd: English rose (descriptor)... English rose (personal description).. 4th: English rose (appellation).. 5th: English rose (people);
I had supported: English rose (appellation), English rose (descriptor), English rose (personal description),
I am also swayed by SmokeyJoe's "Not inherently negative" with regard to English rose (epithet) in view that people are unlikely to consider "English rose" to be a negative form of epithet. I still have reservations about the other possibilities, including: English rose (people) and English rose (women).
This discussion has been going on for approaching three weeks with a content that far exceeds the length of the actual article. I keep looking at it to see how it has been resolved.
Gregkaye (talk) 23:59, 31 August 2014 (UTC)Reply
  • The deadlock here has caused me to get to a conclusion that I should probably have reached earlier and which I would never even have considered but for inputs on this page.
Support, in order:
1st. English rose (epithet), I still agree with comments re the negative connotations of epithet. My instant reaction to this was to go into defensive mode re my creation. In reality Merle Oberon was limited to a typecast as an "English rose" and gossip news regarding certain Celebs has spoken of them breaking out of the English rose image. The negative connotations of epithet may on occasion be quite suitable.
2nd. English rose (appellation), 3rd. English rose (description) or English rose (descriptor), 4th, English rose (personal description).
Not sure whether it is worth pinging again as both Bretonbanquet and SmokeyJoe favoured epithet and Tryptofish is watching the page.
Gregkaye (talk) 14:27, 2 September 2014 (UTC)Reply
The above discussion is preserved as an archive of a requested move. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made in a new section on this talk page. No further edits should be made to this section.

I think that the close got it wrong, but I don't think it's very important. I'm now taking this page off my watchlist, so please ping me if you want me to respond to anything. --Tryptofish (talk) 23:51, 9 September 2014 (UTC)Reply

List of examples edit

Tryptofiish: Rachel Weisz is Jewish (both parents) and Merle Oberon was alsmost certainly Anglo-Indian, or Anglo-Sri Lankan. They should not be in this list. ~ P123ct1 (talk) 22:36, 26 November 2014 (UTC)Reply

dead right they shouldn't! 81.154.172.164 (talk) 02:26, 10 March 2022 (UTC)Reply
I'm not sure why you pinged me, because I never expressed an opinion about who should or should not be on the list. I don't care very much, but I'm generally OK that to be an "English rose", a person has to be somewhat English. But if someone is English, I'm not comfortable with disqualifying them because of their religion, or because of a mixed Anglo-something else ancestry. To do so seems a bit ugly to me, although I trust you did not mean it that way. In any case, I think that a better approach would be to rely upon sources. If there are sources that called these two people "English rose"s, then include them here, with inline citations, and if there are no such sources, then leave them out. --Tryptofish (talk) 22:46, 26 November 2014 (UTC)Reply
P123ct1 Elizabeth Taylor was a convert to Judaism and I would not like to say that this made her less English. Stephen Fry or Daniel Radcliff are both Jewish and are just about as English as you can get. The article is about a generally well meaning epithet and its use as may be applied a woman or girl "who is from or is associated with England." To some extent it is a shallow term which can be viewed both positively and in some cases negatively. The article on Rachel Weisz starts by saying "...is an English film and theatre actress", but this is not of importance in an article about the use of an epiphet. It is a shallow article about perceptions. The Italians have a similar phrase and may be applied to anyone who was regarded to fit the image/preconception. Gregkaye 04:57, 27 November 2014 (UTC)Reply
I meant it completely innocently and wish I had never made the comment now. I addressed Tryptofiish as I thought that is what you requested, but obviously misunderstood. I raised this because to me an English rose is quintessentilally about physical appearance and I do think the two people mentioned look exotic and not English, but that is all I had in mind. Absolutely no criticism was intended except that they seemed out of place. As usual Wikipedia is a minefield and one has to be circumspect in everything one says in it! ~ P123ct1 (talk) 08:08, 27 November 2014 (UTC)Reply
I understand, and that's perfectly alright with me. Please don't be concerned about it. Thanks. --Tryptofish (talk) 14:48, 27 November 2014 (UTC)Reply

Perhaps Billie Piper as 'Rose' in Dr Who is worth a mention. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 2A00:23C6:5C8B:7701:F45F:2D96:BF17:2DC (talk) 10:33, 21 January 2022 (UTC)Reply

yes perhaps. An English Rose has must be white, anyway. 81.154.172.164 (talk) 02:30, 10 March 2022 (UTC)Reply

Emma Thompson, Jenny Agutter should be added to the list. Some sources including the Oxford English Dictionary define an English Rose as an attractive female with a fair skinned complexion who was born in England. That's simple and easy to understand..... but by that definition, as attractive as they may be, some on the list at present are not English Roses. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 2600:1700:EA01:1090:BD4B:749B:E1FA:3817 (talk) 09:41, 27 April 2024 (UTC)Reply

Categorization edit

Category:English women is a container cat (no articles allowed), but I'm unable to determine an appropriate subcat for this article. --Slivicon (talk) 15:12, 23 June 2015 (UTC)Reply

Attempt to strip Daily Mail from article edit

Right before the image gallery is the sentence Women who have been frequently described in the media or with note in media history with the words "English rose" include. This is followed by a bunch of images with a bunch of references where (in the references) the subject is described as an English rose. It is not forbidden to use the Daily Mail in this instance, because the Daily Mail said that the person in question was an English rose, which corroborates with the entire point of the section.

If you want to remove the DM as a reference on this page, you'll have to fundamentally redefine that section and the inclusion criteria. Primefac (talk) 21:42, 9 February 2017 (UTC)Reply

Now, personally, I think that entire gallery should be stripped, making this entire issue moot, but that's not the issue at hand. Primefac (talk) 21:42, 9 February 2017 (UTC)Reply

Opinion based description of use as a 'veiled insult'? edit

The sentence "It can also be used as a veiled insult - as a rose will bloom and fade so may a woman have great beauty in her youth but then quickly lose it." seems tonally inappropriate for wikipedia, and it has no sources. I considered changing it to "It can also be used as a veiled insult, referencing how a rose blooms and fades.", but as a new editor I'm not sure if it is better to just remove it altogether, since it isn't backed up by anything? Whimsicalities (talk) 17:40, 5 November 2022 (UTC)Reply

This article objectifies and demeans women and should be taken down. Venerable beeb (talk) 16:37, 13 February 2024 (UTC)Reply
Not sure if you're trolling or not, Venerable beeb, but the article is about a concept in culture that exists in the real world. If you feel that it "objectifies and demeans women" your issue is with the concept, not with the article. soetermans. ↑↑↓↓←→←→ B A TALK 19:16, 13 February 2024 (UTC)Reply
Not a troll, but point taken. I think that the article can leave in the explanation of the historical and cultural concept without listing specific individuals as examples. Venerable beeb (talk) 23:20, 13 February 2024 (UTC)Reply