Abstract: A spoken language interface comprises an automatic speech recognition system and a text to speech system controlled by a voice controller. The ASR and TTS are connected to a telephony system which receives user speech via a communications link. A dialogue manager is connected to the voice controller and provides control of dialogue generated in response to user speech. The dialogue manager is connected to application managers each of which provide an interface to an application with which the user can converse. Dialogue and grammars are stored in a database as data and are retrieved under the control of the dialogue manager and a personalisation and adaptive learning module. A session and notification manager records session details and enables re-connection of a broken conversation at the point at which the conversation was broken.