In recent versions Ubuntu broke compability with OSS layer. You either need to recompile sphinxbase to support alsa (you need to have libasound2-dev installed) or need to insert kernel module for OSS support (modprobe snd_pcm_oss). You can get more information on this problem in Ubuntu support and in Google   so there are two way to work out 1.bulid your own kernel (that is sucks) 2.sudo apt-get install libasound2-dev &&&&&recompile spinxbase cmu (you kown how to do this)   PS: I really do bulid my own kernel ,but it is not because the problem above ,just for i've just buy a notebook (acer aspire 4743 )and ubuntu dont contain its netcard driver.........................