The spelling of the word "Sharpton" can be explained using the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA). The first syllable is pronounced as "shɑr", which rhymes with "car" and "far". The second syllable is pronounced as "tən", with an unstressed schwa sound followed by the consonant "t" and a short "n" sound. The final "p" in "Sharpton" is silent, making the word sound like "shar-tun". This word refers to civil rights activist Al Sharpton, whose name has become widely recognized in American politics and media.