The spelling of "sweats slave" may seem strange, but it can be explained using phonetic transcription. The first word, "sweats," is pronounced /swɛts/, with a short "e" sound in the middle. The second word, "slave," is pronounced /sleɪv/, with a long "a" sound in the middle. When combined, the "e" and "a" sounds merge to create a unique spelling. While this may be confusing at first, it serves as a reminder of the important history and continued existence of labor exploitation in many industries.