40. The system of claim 39 , adjusting the conversational style comprises changing a formality level of the conversational style according to a level of experience with the voice user interface.
39. A system for providing a telephony voice interface, the system comprising: a memory storing: a receiving module configured to receive personality information comprising one or more individual character traits without regard to user interaction history; a determining module configured to determine a consistent personality for a virtual host based on the specified personality information, wherein the individual character traits are specified by an end user of the voice interface; a storing module configured to store the individual character traits in a profile that includes interaction history information within the memory; a generating module configured to generate the virtual host with the consistent personality in accordance with the individual character traits, wherein the consistent personality defines adjustments to one or more user interaction features of the virtual host, in addition to behavior of the virtual host modified by user interaction history; a querying module configured to query the user for permission to adjust a conversational style of the virtual host if interaction history reaches a threshold; an adjusting module configured to adjust the conversational style if the user grants permission to adjust the conversational style; and a processor configured to process the storing, generating, querying, and adjusting modules.