Recently we have begun to build the basic tools for a generic speech-dialog system. The main modules, their function and internal communication have been specified. The different components are connected through a computer network. A preliminary version of the system has been tested, using simplified versions of the modules. The dialog component of the system is described by a dialog grammar with the help of semantic features. Probabilities are also used in this process. We will give a general overview of the system and describe some of the components in more detail. Application-specific data are collected with the help of Wizard-of-Oz techniques. Currently the system is used during the data collection and the bionic wizard replaces only the speech-recognition module.