The word "mangum" has an unconventional spelling that can be attributed to its pronunciation. In IPA phonetic transcription, "mangum" is spelled as /mæŋəm/. The "ng" sound is a velar nasal, meaning the sound is produced by the back of the tongue touching the soft palate. The "u" after "ng" is pronounced as the schwa sound /ə/. The "m" and "a" have their usual sounds. Overall, the word "mangum" is a prime example of how English spelling can be challenging due to the differences between pronunciation and orthography.