Systems and methods by which voice / data communications may occur in multiple modes / protocols are disclosed. In particular, systems and methods are provided for multiple native mode / protocol voice and data transmissions and receptions with a computing system having a multi-bus structure, including, for example, a TDM bus and a packet bus, and multi-protocol framing engines. Such systems preferably include subsystem functions such as PBX, voice mail and other telephony functions, LAN hub and data router. In preferred embodiments, a TDM bus and a packet bus are intelligently bridged and managed, thereby enabling such multiple mode / protocol voice and data transmissions to be intelligently managed and controlled with a single, integrated system. A computer or other processor includes a local area network controller, which provides routing and hub(s) for one or more packet networks. The computer also is coupled to a buffer / framer, which serves to frame / deframe data to / from the computer from TDM bus. The buffer / framer includes a plurality of framer / deframer engines, supporting, for example, ATM and HDLC framing / deframing. The buffer / framer is coupled to the TDM bus by way of a switch / multiplexer, which includes the capability to intelligently map data traffic between the buffer / framer and the TDM bus to various slots of the TDM frames. Preferably, a DSP pool is coupled to buffer / framer in a manner to provide various signal processing and telecommunications support, such as dial tone generation, DTMF detection and the like. The TDM bus is coupled to a various line / station cards, serving to interface the TDM bus with telephone, facsimiles and other telecommunication devices, and also with a various digital and / or analog WAN network services. Language support for such systems is accomplished by way of a program / data structure so that additional language support may be readily implemented, for example, by a non-software programmer using grammar and voice prompt files, which are preferably located in a predetermined directory in the system.