1. A middleware layer of computer-readable instructions embedded on a computer-readable medium, the instructions being configured to, when executed, facilitate communication between a speech-related application and a speech-related engine, the middleware layer comprising: a speech component having an application-independent interface configured to be coupled to the application and an engine-independent interface configured to be coupled to the engine and at least one processing component configured to perform speech related services for the application and the engine, wherein the application-independent interface and the engine-independent interface are different interfaces.