The spelling of the word "papalia" can be explained using IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) phonetic transcription. The first syllable, "pa", is pronounced as /pə/ with a short "uh" sound. The second syllable, "pa", is pronounced as /pə/ again. Finally, the last syllable, "lia", is pronounced as /liə/, with the letter "a" sounding like "uh". Therefore, the correct spelling of the word is "papalia", with the emphasis on the first and last syllables, and the "a" sounds pronounced as "uh".