The spelling of "gotten the wagon" may seem confusing, but it actually follows traditional English pronunciation rules. In IPA phonetic transcription, the word "gotten" is pronounced as "gɒtən", with the "o" sounding like the "o" in "pot". Similarly, "wagon" is pronounced as "wæɡən", with the "a" sounding like the "a" in "cat". Together, "gotten the wagon" is pronounced as "gɒtən ðə wæɡən". While uncommon in modern English, this spelling reflects traditional usage from earlier centuries.