The spelling of "shurtliff" can be explained using IPA phonetic transcription as /ˈʃɜːrtlɪf/. The initial "sh" sound is represented by the IPA symbol "ʃ", followed by the vowel "er" which is shown as "ɜː". The "t" and "l" sounds are straightforward and are represented by their respective IPA symbols. The final "iff" is phonetically transcribed as "ɪf". Overall, the spelling of "shurtliff" follows the English convention of using mostly consonants with occasional vowel sounds.