The spelling of the word "tolan" reflects several key phonetic elements. Using IPA phonetic transcription, we can see that the initial "t" sound is followed by a "ow" sound, represented by the combination of "o" and "a". The "l" sound is then followed by a short "a" sound, represented by the letter "a". Finally, the word ends with an "n" sound. This combination of phonetic elements results in the unique spelling of "tolan".