11. A method for recognizing a speech pattern as a string of predetermined reference words comprising the steps of: storing a set of signals representative of the time frame sequence of acoustic features of each reference word, said sequence having a beginning frame and an ending frame; producing a set of signals representative of the time frame sequence of acoustic features of the speech pattern; generating at least one reference word string responsive to the speech pattern acoustic feature signals and the reference word acoustic feature signals; and identifying the speech pattern as one of the generated reference word strings characterized in that said reference word string generation comprises: producing a set of signals identifying successive reference word levels; assigning a segment of the speech pattern to each successive level; for each level, time registering the level speech pattern segment feature signals with the feature signals of the reference words to produce level time registration speech pattern segment endframe signals and time registration correspondence signals for said reference words, and selecting reference word strings responsive to the time registration speech pattern endframe and time registration correspondence signals of the levels.
11. A method for recognizing a speech pattern as a string of predetermined reference words comprising the steps of: storing a set of signals representative of the time frame sequence of acoustic features of each reference word, said sequence having a beginning frame and an ending frame; producing a set of signals representative of the time frame sequence of acoustic features of the speech pattern; generating at least one reference word string responsive to the speech pattern acoustic feature signals and the reference word acoustic feature signals; and identifying the speech pattern as one of the generated reference word strings characterized in that said reference word string generation comprises: producing a set of signals identifying successive reference word levels; assigning a segment of the speech pattern to each successive level; for each level, time registering the level speech pattern segment feature signals with the feature signals of the reference words to produce level time registration speech pattern segment endframe signals and time registration correspondence signals for said reference words, and selecting reference word strings responsive to the time registration speech pattern endframe and time registration correspondence signals of the levels. 17. A method for recognizing a speech pattern as a string of predetermined reference words according to claim 11 further characterized in that said time registering comprises: selecting a range of reference word frames for registration with each level speech pattern segment frame responsive to the reference word feature signals and the level speech segment feature signals and generating level speech pattern segment time registration endframes responsive to the selected reference word range upper limit frame being equal to or exceeding the reference word ending frame.