The spelling of the surname "Hougland" can be explained using the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA). The first syllable is pronounced as "haw", with the vowel sound of "au" as in "caught". The second syllable is pronounced as "gluhnd", with a short "u" sound as in "but" and a silent "d". Therefore, the correct pronunciation would sound like "how-gluhnd". This spelling is likely derived from Dutch or German roots, as it is a relatively common surname in those countries.