The spelling of the word "Donalson" can be confusing for some due to the silent "l" sound. The correct IPA phonetic transcription for this word is /ˈdɒnəlsən/. The first syllable is pronounced as "don" with a short vowel sound, followed by a schwa sound for the second syllable. The last syllable is pronounced as "sən" with a short "u" sound. It is essential to pay attention to the letter "l" in the second syllable, even though it is silent.