1. A method for managing interactive voice response dialog between a machine comprising automatic speech recognition and a user, said method comprising the steps of: setting a mode confidence level parameter value to a first value prior to a first input from said user wherein said first input is of a speech input mode; selecting one of a plurality of audio prompts comprising speech to annunciate to the user from the machine based on said first value of said mode confidence level parameter, wherein said one of said plurality of audio prompts solicits said first input comprising a first semantic response from said user in said speech input mode; annunciating the at least one of a plurality of audio prompts to said user; receiving said first input from said user; determining a first speech recognition confidence level based on said first input; setting said mode confidence level parameter to a second value based on said first speech recognition confidence level, said second value indicating a lower level of confidence of recognition relative to said first value of said mode confidence level; selecting an another one of at least one of a plurality of audio prompts based on said mode confidence level; and annunciating to the user from the machine said another one of least one of a plurality of audio prompts comprising speech based on said second value of said mode confidence level wherein said another one of said plurality of phrases solicits said first semantic response from said user in a DTMF input mode.