1. A method of providing a caller with a directory assistance dialog, the dialog being switchable from an automated speech recognition (ASR) path to an operator-assisted (OP) path, comprising the steps of: prompting the caller for a location; applying a speech recognition process to the caller's response to the location prompt; if the applying step fails, directing the remaining dialog to the OP path; if the applying step succeeds, providing a configuration switch that could be set to cause the remaining dialog to branch to the OP path; prompting the caller for a listing; applying a speech recognition process to the caller's response to the listing prompt; if the applying step fails, directing the remaining dialog to the OP path; if the applying step succeeds, performing a database search for the listing; giving out the listing to the caller upon completion of a successful search; and forwarding at least one response to a speech recognition tuning process.