1. A method for reducing a search space for a recognition grammar used when interpreting natural language speech utterances, the method comprising: creating a phonemic representation of acoustic elements associated with an acoustic speech model, the acoustic elements including at least an unstressed central vowel and plurality of phonemic elements; representing syllables associated with the acoustic speech model using the phonemic representation, each of the represented syllables including a series of acoustic elements; constructing, via an electronic device, an acoustic grammar that contains transitions between the acoustic elements of the represented syllables, the transitions constrained according to phonotactic rules of the acoustic speech model; and using the unstressed central vowel as a linking element between sequential phonemic elements contained in the constructed acoustic grammar.