Not sure what to call this textual format. There is actually no way to determine whether the user is speaking, typing, using a pointing device, retinal or eye position reader, alpha wave reader, a program that is watching the user and issuing queries on the user's behalf, or what. All we know is that we get text that is supposedly in a human language, and directly or indirectly indicates something that the user wants us to do for the user. If we succeed, the user stays with us and we a paycheck. As to whether there is a human listener, it depends.
Humans are always in the loop more or less directly.
The already indirect sound vibrations are converted to analog electrical signals, which are then probably converted to digital signals, which are then translated via any number of thousands of devices, media, and miles, with measurable delays. And on and on and on.