1. A method for recognizing an utterance as a keyword which activates a speaker dependent recognition system on a plurality of vocabulary words, the method comprising the steps of: matching said utterance to a keyword template and producing a corresponding keyword score indicating the quality of the match between said utterance and said keyword template; matching said utterance to a plurality of vocabulary templates of said vocabulary words and producing a corresponding plurality of vocabulary scores each indicating the quality of the match between said utterance and one of said vocabulary templates; selecting said utterance as said keyword if said keyword score indicates a significant match to said keyword template and if said keyword score indicates a better match than do the entirety of said vocabulary scores; and activating said speaker dependent recognition system to match at least a second utterance to said vocabulary words.