1. A computer-implemented method comprising: accepting a predetermined vocabulary-dependent characterization of a set of audio signals, the predetermined characterization including an identification of putative occurrences of each of a plurality of vocabulary items in the set of audio signals, the plurality of vocabulary items included in the vocabulary; accepting a new vocabulary item not included in the vocabulary; accepting putative occurrences of the new vocabulary item in the set of audio signals; and generating, by an analysis engine of a speech processing system, an augmented characterization of the set of audio signals based on the identified putative occurrences of the new vocabulary item.