Talk:Skomer

Missing from Google Maps

Skomer Island is currently . . . Pedrocelli (talk) 02:32, 20 November 2009 (UTC)

Really does have map problems

Skomer is not where the lower of the two maps shows it as being. The Yowser (talk) 15:44, 28 May 2010 (UTC)

Requested move 30 November 2018

The following is a closed 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 after discussing it on the closer's talk page. No further edits should be made to this section.

The result of the move request was: not moved. Calidum 01:12, 8 December 2018 (UTC)

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• Skomer → Skomer Island
• Skokholm → Skokholm Island
• Grassholm → Grassholm Island
• Gateholm → Gateholm Island
• Middleholm → Midland Isle

– Per the Ordnance Survey [1][2][3]. The OS is a reliable source for English names but it appears to be less good for Scottish and Welsh places probably due to the fact that languages get mixed up a bit with modern and old words. A similar RM at Talk:Handa, Scotland#Requested move 16 September 2018 was closed as no consensus because the names were tautological. The same is the cases here "Skomer" means "Cleft Island", "Skokholm" means "wooded island", "Grassholm" appears to mean "green island" and "Gateholm" means "goat island". It therefore would be good to discuss this to see if the names in English are formal and proper WP:COMMONNAME/WP:CONCISE. However we do have names that combine modern and old names that are tautological such as Pendle Hill, see List of redundant place names. Most sources include island in the names [4][5][6][7][8][9][10]. I am also listing Midland Isle because it looks like the current name is also commonly used. Most of the other islands in Wales include the word "Island" in the name (or Ynys which is Welsh for island") such as Ramsey Island (which I'm sure means "garlic island"), see Category:Islands of Wales by principal area. Crouch, Swale (talk) 18:37, 30 November 2018 (UTC)

• Oppose. Firstly, this is Eng WP, as you say; the use of "island" in English is often arbitrary, eg Anglesey, whereas in Welsh it is usual. Secondly, "holm" means "isle" in old Norse, so it would be doubling up on the identifier "island". Thirdly, what matters most is what a WP reader would key in: Skokholm would come up before Skokholm Island, so the "island" suffix would be redundant; WP advice is to use as short a name as possible to identify the subject. Fourthly, as a local, I haven't heard (as opposed to read) the word island used after these particular names, with the exception of Caldey. Lastly (and sorry to go on), while Ramsey Island and Caldey Island are in common use, the ending "-ey" is also old Norse for "island", I understand. Having said all this, whilst it wouldn't be the end of the world to make these moves, wouldn't it be rather a waste of time? Tony Holkham (Talk) 19:45, 30 November 2018 (UTC)

BTW, not sure the garlic derivation for Ramsey holds up - the plant is very common throughout Pembrokeshire. This is an alternative ref to the Oxford dictionary. Tony Holkham (Talk) 20:06, 30 November 2018 (UTC)

In English the word island is usually included (but not always) eg Mersea Island, see Category:Islands of England by county such as Category:Islands of Essex. WP uses the name that the subject is called, note that River Thames isn't at Thames, Mount Everest isn't at Everest, Microsoft Windows isn't at Windows and Adolf Hitler isn't at Hitler. The question in this case is is the word "Island" part of the formal name. If we were following the logic for Handa Island, we should move Ramsey Island to Ramsey, Pembrokeshire and Caldey Island to Caldey (which just redirects there). Sheppey means "Sheep Island" but the article is still at Isle of Sheppey for example. Crouch, Swale (talk) 20:17, 30 November 2018 (UTC)

I don't follow the logic of your examples; adding "island" as a suffix is not the same as listing Everest at Mount Everest, because "Mount" is a prefix. We're not talking about mountains or rivers, which need special nomenclature as geophysical features, but names of places which happen to be islands. It's interesting that there are a couple of islands in the Bristol Channel, Flat Holm and Steep Holm, neither of which have the "island" suffix. Do those need changing as well? Would we move Anglesey to Anglesey Island? The answer to your question, then, is "no": in the case of the Pembrokeshire islands, "island" is not part of their formal names, in most instances. I think we have to go by local usage, such as that used by local information such as this one. In my view, anyway. It's not that big a deal if you're really set on changing them; I don't feel the need to debate it too far. Tony Holkham (Talk) 20:45, 30 November 2018 (UTC)

As noted the word "Island" is often included in the names. Flat Holm and Steep Holm do not have the name on the OS, nor does Anglesey (although the principal area is "Isle of Anglesey". Crouch, Swale (talk) 20:57, 30 November 2018 (UTC)

Your case is slightly undermined by the caption in your link: "Wildflowers on Skomer Island" :) But I agree with you, and particularly with your point about prefixes and suffixes. The OP seems to be seeking consistency where there is none: some islands habitually have "island" appended, and some don't. Skomer is, IMO, one of the latter. Dave.Dunford (talk) 09:46, 1 December 2018 (UTC)

Consistency with the OS. If Caldey and Ramsey can have the suffix when it is on the OS (even when their name already includes "island"), then I don't see why the 4 that I have nominated can't. I am not proposing to move those that the OS doesn't include "Island". Crouch, Swale (talk) 09:54, 1 December 2018 (UTC)

Much as I love the OS, I don't accept that they are the arbiters of placenames. Local usage takes precedence, for me. Dave.Dunford (talk) 10:08, 1 December 2018 (UTC)

• Oppose – I spent three days on Skomer and nobody called it "Skomer Island". Also, the OS is not the ultimate authority. I don't see the point, since anybody looking for "Skomer Island" will find "Skomer" anyway. Dave.Dunford (talk) 20:49, 30 November 2018 (UTC)
• Oppose - violates WP:COMMONNAME, and unnecessary. Ghmyrtle (talk) 08:32, 1 December 2018 (UTC)

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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.