Just recently I tried to say the word “registering“ out-loud, and realized I couldn’t say it properly! I had to stop and check every syllable carefully until I got it right. I ended up saying things like “regeristing“, and “regeristating”.
If you have a few beers with your buddies, next time, see if you can see what they say!
In primary school, were you taught “sight” reading or “phonics” reading? If sight reading that may be the cause.
That seems more to do with reading a word, rather than verbally pronouncing it though. Primary school is very far back for me, so I would not know. I would not know even if anyone was even using those principles at the time I was in Primary. I do not even know how old that concept is, or how recent is has been used within education systems as a valid concept, regarding teaching to read.
A lot of stuff has changed over the years regarding teaching small kids. I know the word “registering“, and what it means. If I were literally reading it as text, I would probably pronounce it right. If the word is in my mind, and I then try to verbally pronounce it, that is where the problem comes in!
You would remember is you were taught to “sound out each letter” of words, so I suspect you learned to pronounce words by “see and say” method,
Too far back to remember.
Do you have involvement yourself as a teacher, or as a parent, or both? I do not have kids myself, but I have had a certain amount of hours as an assistant teacher in a primary school. It was only part of a module I did for a degree though, so it was not much (although very rewarding and enlightening).
I am 86 years old and have two sons, three grandsons and a great grand son and a great grand daughter. Never involved with teaching in schools.
What brought the methods to mind is: hobby is ham radio. Very involved with the Oregon Emergency Net on the air from 6pm to 7pm each night.
Recently a new guy started as net control. Most people use phonetics when they say their call sign to ensure correct reception. The net control says the call sign back while reading the call from his computer screen/spread sheet.
Many times he stumbles over letters while trying to say the associated phonetic word to match the letter. Many times he gets both wrong. A sure sign he is read/say what he sees, not making the sound of the letter in his mind and then attaching a matching word.
Try substitution.
Rather than using "that" word, substitute similar words. Try REGGIE-STRING. It will be close enough for everyone to hear "registering."
I had a friend who could not say "catastrophe" (not the French pronunciation). He used "cat a$$ trophy."
In the bicycle world, one of the major widgets is a "derailleur" (a French word, pronounced in English) which I suggest to those struggling to use "de-rail-er." Close enough.
The listener's brain puts it back together.
Hams use substitution for clarity: tree (3) fife (5) niner (9)
I’ll tell you what, I was not expecting much from this thread, but it has been an enlightening experience. It’s been a nice distraction while I am sitting here soldering and heat shrinking stuff. I have also not been distracted enough to make any ridiculous mistakes. Or should I say “riddy“-”cool”-”louse” mistakes?
The interesting thing about saying REGGIE STRING, is that it is 3 syllables, instead of 4. It is probably better to use 3 anyway, because it is still understood, and briefer. Even that word I just said, “probably“, could just be said with 2 syllables, but some discerning linguists might get antsy about that.
I can't pronounce Bacarruda
Prob-ly
What about "extraterrestrial"?
I have trouble with "prescriptions" as in "you might have a prescription for me"
Not so much a problem with forming the word as being distracted by the lovely Scottish lilt of the lady pharmacist. It gets me every time.
Meditating on this thread last night, I was reminded of a college chemistry professor named Hector Munn. He could not for the life of himself pronounce “ALUMINUM”. It always came out as “ALUNIMUM”. My wife and I both had classes from him and he always warned his students to expect the problem. Everyone thought it was really funny, but accepted the problem.
How would he have got on with Aluminium?
Alu minimum
Or Praseodymium
Prizo dimmy mum
Tom.... 
