1. A method to improve communications understandability comprising: receiving speech; identifying one or more distinct speech events in the received speech; representing one or more of the one or more distinct speech events as an adjustable speech production parameter; utilizing a knowledge base to determine an incorrect syllable duration caused by a mispronunciation; and adjusting the mispronunciation to one or more of lengthen, shorten, emphasize or deemphasize a misspoken syllable.