A system and method for providing end user speech applications. The system is embodied in an application environment framework which exchanges messages with a target execution platform having a local call flow interpreter. A speech application comprised of a plurality of generic call flow objects is executed on the application environment framework. While the speech application executes, the application environment framework translates the generic call flow objects into platform specific call flow objects having a format recognizable by the local call flow interpreter of the target execution platform, formats the platform specific call flow objects into reply messages using a protocol recognizable by the target execution platform, and transmits the messages to the target execution platform. In this manner, a platform independent speech application effectively controls the operation of a platform dependent call flow interpreter to provide voice interaction with an end user.