The word "cottman" is spelled with three distinct sounds. First, the "c" sound is pronounced as /k/, followed by the short "o" sound as /ɑ/ and then the double consonant "tt" is pronounced as /t/. Finally, the word ends with the "man" sound, which is pronounced as /mən/. The IPA phonetic transcription of "cottman" is /kɑtˈmən/. Correct spelling is crucial for effective communication, and mastering the IPA phonetic system can help in achieving this goal.