The word "SPNEA" is a bit of a spelling enigma. It's actually an acronym for the Society for the Preservation of New England Antiquities, but its spelling doesn't follow standard English conventions. The "SP" at the beginning is pronounced like the word "spoon," while the "NEA" at the end is pronounced like the word "knee-uh." IPA phonetic transcription would represent the spelling as /spnuh/. Despite its unconventional spelling, "SPNEA" has become a recognizable name in the world of historic preservation.