A voice processing system comprises a processing device that processes and receives
a stream of voice input as a user is speaking. A software program executes program
steps for determining a predetermined pattern of speech and silence during processing
of stream of voice input so as to play or present the predetermined backchannel
response to the user. A method provides an audible backchannel response between
the voice processing system and the user, while the user is speaking, in particular,
recording a message. The method includes monitoring the message to determine a
predetermined pattern of speech and silence based on timing between the speech
and silence periods. Then, the method produces the audible backchannel response
based on the predetermined pattern. An audible user interface includes a speech
processor that processes or classifies an audio message in the telecommunication
device as speech and silence frame while a calling party is speaking, in particular,
recording the audio message to a called party. A control circuitry cooperates with
the speech processor and responds to a predetermined pattern of the speech and
silence segments so as to play the preset backchannel response in audible form
to the calling party.