1. In a speech analysis apparatus for recognizing at least one keyword in an audio signal, each keyword being characterized by a template having at least one target pattern, each target pattern representing at least two short-term power spectra, and each target pattern having associated therewith at least two required dwell time positions and at least one optional dwell time position, the recognition method comprising the steps of: forming at a repetitive frame time, a sequence of input frame patterns from and representing said audio signal, each frame pattern being associated with a frame time, successive frame patterns corresponding to successive dwell time positions, generating a numerical measure of the similarity of each said frame pattern with each of said target patterns, accumulating for each said target pattern required dwell time position and each said target pattern optional dwell time position, and using said numerical measure of the similarity of the just formed frame pattern and said each target pattern, a numerical value representing the alignment of the just formed frame pattern with the respective target pattern dwell time position, and generating a recognition decision, based upon said numerical values, when a predetermined sequence occurs in said audio signal.