The spelling of the word "hotham" can be explained through its phonetic transcription in IPA. The first syllable is pronounced as /hɒt/, with the vowel sound being a short "o" sound, while the "th" is pronounced as a voiceless dental fricative. The second syllable, "-ham", is pronounced as /hæm/ with a short "a" sound, and the "m" is pronounced fully. The spelling of "hotham" accurately reflects its pronunciation in IPA, demonstrating the relationship between spoken sounds and written words.