The spelling of the word "JAPS" has been a subject of controversy due to its derogatory nature towards Japanese people. The word is pronounced as /dʒæps/ in IPA phonetic transcription, with a voiced alveolar stop (/dʒ/) followed by a short "a" vowel (/æ/) and a voiceless alveolar fricative (/ps/). However, the use of this term has been widely considered offensive and disrespectful. It is important to use respectful language and avoid derogatory terms that may cause harm or offend individuals or groups.