The spelling of the word "Carnic" is based on the English language phonetic transcription system known as the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA). The word is pronounced as /kɑːnɪk/ having two syllables with the "C" pronounced with a "k" sound. The word refers to anything related to the Carnian period, which is the middle stage of the Upper Triassic period in geologic time. This spelling is commonly used in scientific literature and can be a source of confusion for those unfamiliar with the specialized vocabulary of geology.