The spelling of the word "sullivant" may seem unusual, but it can be easily explained through IPA phonetic transcription. The word is pronounced as /ˈsʌlɪvənt/ with emphasis on the second syllable. The sound "sul" can be phonetically represented as /sʌl/, while the "li" sound is pronounced as /lɪ/. The final syllable "vant" is pronounced as /vənt/. Therefore, the spelling of "sullivant" accurately reflects its unique pronunciation.