1. A computerized method of performing speech recognition comprising: using speech recognition programming for: providing a user interface which allows a user to select between generating a first and a second user input; responding to the generation of the first user input by performing large vocabulary speech recognition on one or more utterances in a prior-language-context-dependent mode, which recognizes at least the first word of an utterance depending in part on a language model context created by a previously recognized word from the previous utterance, if any; and responding to the generation of the second user input by performing large vocabulary speech recognition on one or more utterances in a prior-language-context-independent mode, which recognizes at least the first word of an utterance substantially independently of any language model context created by a previously recognized word from the previous utterance, if any; wherein: as words are recognized by said speech recognition programming in both of said recognition modes such words are output to programming external to said speech recognition programming for use by said external programming; and the response by said speech recognition programming to said first and second inputs by switching recognition modes is independent of the state of said external programming.