Method and apparatus for creation and user-customization of speech-enabled services

Embodiments of the invention relate to a system and method for providing speech-enabled application programs. The speech-enabled programs automatically execute requests input by users. One or more natural language variants may be mapped with at least one natural language exemplar. The natural language exemplar may correspond to a typical way to express a request relevant to the speech-enabled application program. The natural language variant may correspond to an alternative way of expressing the same request. A recognized input string is received and a prospective variant that most resembles the received recognized input string is selected from the natural language variants. The natural language exemplar mapped to the prospective variant is identified. An action instruction associated with the identified natural language exemplar is executed to fulfill the user's request.