A method is claimed for managing interactive dialog between a machine and a user. In one embodiment, an interaction between the machine and the user is managed in response to a timing position of possible speech onset from the user. In another embodiment, the interaction between the machine and the user is dependent upon the timing of a recognition result, which is relative to a cessation of a verbalization of a desired sequence from the machine. In another embodiment, the interaction between the machine and the user is dependent upon a recognition result and whether the desired sequence was ceased or not ceased.