The spelling of the word "Barkston" can be explained through the use of IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription. The word is pronounced as /ˈbɑːkstən/. The first syllable "bark" is pronounced as /bɑːk/, with the "a" sound like the "a" in "father." The second syllable "ston" is pronounced as /stən/, with the "o" sound like the "o" in "so" and the "n" pronounced softly. Thus, the correct spelling of the word is "Barkston" as it reflects its proper pronunciation.