The spelling of "taustaff" may seem unusual, but it can be explained using the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA). The word is pronounced as /tɔːstɑːf/, with a long "o" sound at the beginning and middle, and a long "a" sound at the end. The "au" spelling represents the "ɔː" sound, while the "st" spelling represents the "s" and "t" sounds. The double "f" at the end indicates a strong emphasis on the final syllable.