John Cowan wrote:

>
> Ph. D. scripsit:
>
> > Some English speakers just don't get it. All over
> > southeastern Michigan, new office buildings are
> > given names such as "Green Oaks Officenter."
> > The last word is intended to be read as "Office
> > Center." Many bank holding companies have
> > added "Bancorp" to their names. Again, this is
> > intended to be read "Bank Corp."
>
> It's easier to trademark words if they're "fanciful", which includes
> distortions such as these. "Quick Copy" might be ruled generic for
> a copy shop: "Kwik Kopy" will most likely not.

Perhaps, but why not "Banccorp"? I think in many
cases someone just said, "The last sound in one
word is the same as the first sound in the next, so
it's only necessary to write it with one consonant."
"Banccorp" is just as fanciful, but at least maintains
the correct pronunciation.

If it's a matter of being unique, why are there several
banks using it? Surely "ABC Bancorp," "XYZ Bancorp,"
and "Foobar Bancorp" could be registered just as well
as "ABC Bank Corp.," "XYZ Bank Corp.," and "Foobar
Bank Corp." (Or substitute "Banccorp")

--Ph. D.