Document:

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                                                                   Exhibit 10.18

                                     FORM OF

                           NUANCE COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
                                 2000 STOCK PLAN
                       RESTRICTED STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT

(A)  Name of Grantee: _________________

(B)  Credit Date: ______________________

(C)  Number of Shares: ____________________

(D)  Price per Share: _____________________

(E)  Effective Date: _______________________

          THIS RESTRICTED STOCK PURCHASE GRANT AGREEMENT (the "AGREEMENT"), is
made and entered into as of the date set forth in Item E above (the "EFFECTIVE
DATE") between Nuance Communications, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
"COMPANY") and the person named in Item A above ("GRANTEE").

          THE PARTIES AGREE AS FOLLOWS:

1.   STOCK PURCHASE RIGHTS. Pursuant to the Company's 2000 Stock Plan (the
     "PLAN"), a copy of which is attached to this Agreement as Exhibit 1, the
     Company hereby credits to a separate account maintained on the books of the
     Company (the "ACCOUNT") Stock Purchase Rights which will give Grantee the
     right to receive that number of shares of Common Stock of the Company, par
     value $0.001 (the "SHARES") listed in Item C above on the terms and
     conditions set forth herein and in the Plan, the terms and conditions of
     the Plan being hereby incorporated into this agreement by reference. In the
     event of a conflict between the terms and conditions of the Plan and the
     terms and conditions of this Agreement, the terms and conditions of the
     Plan shall prevail. Capitalized terms used and not defined in this
     Agreement will have the meaning set forth in the Plan

2.   COMPANY'S OBLIGATION TO PAY; PURCHASE PRICE. Each Stock Purchase Right has
     a value equal to the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of this
     Agreement. Unless and until the Stock Purchase Rights will have vested in
     the manner set forth in Section 3, the Grantee will have no right to
     receive the Shares subject to the Stock Purchase Rights. Prior to actual
     payment of any Shares, such Stock Purchase Rights will represent an
     unsecured obligation of the Company, payable (if at all) only from the
     general assets of the Company. The purchase price for the Shares subject to
     the Stock Purchase Rights shall be the price set forth in Item D above.

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3.   VESTING. _____% of the Stock Purchase Rights shall vest on _____________,
     ____, subject to Grantee's continuing to be an employee, director or
     consultant of the Company or of an Affiliate (a "SERVICE PROVIDER") on such
     date.

4.   FORFEITURE UPON TERMINATION AS SERVICE PROVIDER. Notwithstanding any
     contrary provision of this Agreement, if the Grantee terminates service as
     a Service Provider for any or no reason prior to vesting, the Stock
     Purchase Rights awarded by this Agreement will thereupon be forfeited at no
     cost to the Company.

5.   PAYMENT AFTER VESTING. Any Stock Purchase Rights that vest in accordance
     with Section 3 will be paid to the Grantee in Shares at the purchase price
     (which shall be satisfied through past services to the Company) set forth
     in Section 2, provided that to the extent determined appropriate by the
     Company, the Grantee shall satisfy any federal, state and local withholding
     taxes with respect to such Stock Purchase Rights prior to the payment of
     any vested Shares to the Grantee.

6.   RIGHTS AS STOCKHOLDER. Neither the Grantee nor any person claiming under or
     through the Grantee will have any of the rights or privileges of a
     stockholder of the Company in respect of any Shares deliverable hereunder
     unless and until certificates representing such Shares will have been
     issued, recorded on the records of the Company or its transfer agents or
     registrars, and delivered to the Grantee.

7.   TAX ADVICE. The Company has made no warranties or representations to
     Grantee with respect to the income tax consequences of the transactions
     contemplated by the agreement pursuant to which the Stock Purchase Rights
     have been issued and Shares will be purchased and Grantee is in no manner
     relying on the Company or its representatives for an assessment of such tax
     consequences. The Grantee acknowledges that the Grantee has not relied and
     will not rely upon the Company or the Company's counsel with respect to any
     tax consequences related to the Stock Purchase Rights or the ownership,
     purchase, or disposition of the Shares. The Grantee assumes full
     responsibility for all such consequences and for the preparation and filing
     of all tax returns and elections which may or must be filed in connection
     with the Stock Purchase Rights and the Shares.

8.   WITHHOLDING OF TAXES. Notwithstanding any contrary provision of this
     Agreement, no certificate representing Shares may be released from the
     Company unless and until the Grantee shall have delivered to the Company
     the full amount of any federal, state or local income or other taxes which
     the Company may be required by law to withhold with respect to such Shares.
     At the election of the Company, any federal, state and local withholding
     taxes with respect to the Stock Purchase Rights and/or the Shares may be
     paid by reducing the number of vested Shares actually paid to the Grantee.

     8.1. Trade for Taxes. At the Grantee's election, the Company may deduct
          from any payment of distribution of Restricted Stock the amount of any
          tax required by

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          law to be withheld with respect to the purchase of the shares of
          Restricted Stock or the lapse of the Purchase Option.

          GRANTEE MUST INFORM THE COMPANY OF HIS OR HER PREFERENCE FOR PAYMENT
          OF THEIR WITHHOLDING TAX OBLIGATIONS WITHIN 30 DAYS OF RECEIPT OF THE
          DOCUMENTATION. IF NO ELECTION IS RECEIVED, THE TAX ELECTION WILL
          DEEMED TO BE A PAYMENT OF CASH. AN ELECTION FORM IS ATTACHED HERETO AS
          EXHIBIT A.

9.   ASSIGNMENT; BINDING EFFECT. Subject to the limitations set forth in this
     Agreement, this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of
     the executors, administrators, heirs, legal representatives, and successors
     of the parties hereto; provided, however, that Grantee may not assign any
     of Grantee's rights under this Agreement.

10.  DAMAGES. Grantee shall be liable to the Company for all costs and damages,
     including incidental and consequential damages, resulting from a
     disposition of the Stock Purchase Rights which is not in conformity with
     the provisions of this Agreement.

11.  GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in
     accordance with, the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts excluding
     those laws that direct the application of the laws of another jurisdiction.

12.  NOTICES. All notices and other communications under this Agreement shall be
     in writing. Unless and until the Grantee is notified in writing to the
     contrary, all notices, communications, and documents directed to the
     Company and related to the Agreement, if not delivered by hand, shall be
     mailed, addressed as follows:

                           Nuance Communications, Inc.
                                One Wayside Road
                              Burlington, MA 01803
                             Attention: HR Director

     Unless and until the Company is notified in writing to the contrary, all
     notices, communications, and documents intended for the Grantee and related
     to this Agreement, if not delivered by hand, shall be mailed to Grantee's
     last known address as shown on the Company's books. Notices and
     communications shall be mailed by first class mail, postage prepaid;
     documents shall be mailed by registered mail, return receipt requested,
     postage prepaid. All mailings and deliveries related to the Agreement shall
     be deemed received when actually received, if by hand delivery, and two
     business days after mailing, if by mail.

13.  ARBITRATION. Any and all disputes or controversies arising out of this
     Agreement shall be finally settled by arbitration conducted in Essex County
     in accordance with the then existing rules of the American Arbitration
     Association, and judgment upon the

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     award rendered by the arbitrators may be entered in any court having
     jurisdiction thereof; provided that nothing in this Section 14 shall
     prevent a party from applying to a court of competent jurisdiction to
     obtain temporary relief pending resolution of the dispute through
     arbitration. The parties hereby agree that service of any notices in the
     course of such arbitration at their respective addresses as provided for in
     Section 13 shall be valid and sufficient.

14.  NO RIGHTS TO STOCK PURCHASE RIGHTS, SHARES, OPTIONS OR EMPLOYMENT. Other
     than with respect to the Stock Purchase Rights, neither Grantee nor any
     other person shall have any claim or right to be issued stock or granted an
     option under the Plan. Having received a Stock Purchase Right under the
     Plan shall not give the Grantee any right to receive any other grant or
     option under the Plan. This Stock Purchase Right is not an employment
     contract and nothing in this Stock Purchase Right shall be deemed to create
     in any way whatsoever any obligation on your part to continue in the employ
     of the Company, or the Company to continue your employment with the
     Company.

15.  ENTIRE AGREEMENT. Company and Grantee agree that this Agreement (including
     its attached Exhibits) is the complete and exclusive statement between
     Company and Grantee regarding its subject matter and supersedes all prior
     proposals, communications, and agreements of the parties, whether oral or
     written, regarding the grant Stock Purchase Rights and Shares to Grantee.

16.  ADDITIONAL CONDITIONS TO ISSUANCE OF SHARES. If at any time the Company
     will determine, in its discretion, that the listing, registration or
     qualification of the Shares upon any securities exchange or under any state
     or federal law, or the consent or approval of any governmental regulatory
     authority is necessary or desirable as a condition to the issuance of
     Shares to the Grantee, such issuance will not occur unless and until such
     listing, registration, qualification, consent or approval will have been
     effected or obtained free of any conditions not acceptable to the Company.
     The Company will make all reasonable efforts to meet the requirements of
     any such state or federal law or securities exchange and to obtain any such
     consent or approval of any such governmental authority.

17.  ADMINISTRATOR AUTHORITY. The Administrator will have the power to interpret
     the Plan and this Agreement and to adopt such rules for the administration,
     interpretation and application of the Plan as are consistent therewith and
     to interpret or revoke any such rules (including, but not limited to, the
     determination of whether or not any Stock Purchase Rights have vested). All
     actions taken and all interpretations and determinations made by the
     Administrator in good faith will be final and binding upon the Grantee, the
     Company and all other interested persons. No member of the Administrator
     will be personally liable for any action, determination or interpretation
     made in good faith with respect to the Plan or this Agreement.

18.  CAPTIONS. Captions provided herein are for convenience only and are not to
     serve as a basis for interpretation or construction of this Agreement.

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19.  AGREEMENT SEVERABLE. In the event that any provision in this Agreement will
     be held invalid or unenforceable, such provision will be severable from,
     and such invalidity or unenforceability will not be construed to have any
     effect on, the remaining provisions of this Agreement.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the
     Effective Date.

                                        Nuance Communications, Inc.

                                        By:
                                            ------------------------------------
                                            Paul A. Ricci

          The Grantee hereby accepts and agrees to be bound by all of the terms
and conditions of this Agreement and the Plan.

                                        ----------------------------------------
                                        Grantee -

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                                     EXHIBIT

Exhibit 1   2000 Stock Plan
Exhibit A   Trade-for-Taxes<PAGE>

                                                                   Exhibti 10.19

                                     FORM OF

                           NUANCE COMMUNICATIONS, INC.

                                 2000 STOCK PLAN

                             STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT

     Unless otherwise defined herein, the terms defined in the Plan shall have
the same defined meanings in this Option Agreement.

I.   NOTICE OF STOCK OPTION GRANT

     (FName) (LNamE)

     You have been granted an option to purchase Common Stock of the Company,
subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan and this Option Agreement, as
follows:

     Grant Number                     (Number)

     Date of Grant                    (Date)

     Vesting Commencement Date        (Date)

     Exercise Price per Share         (Market_Value)

     Total Number of Shares Granted   (Shares)

     Total Exercise Price             (Total_Price)

     Type of Option:                  ___ Incentive Stock Option

                                      ___ Nonstatutory Stock Option

     Term/Expiration Date:            (Expiration_Date)

     Vesting Schedule:

     Subject to accelerated vesting as set forth below, this Option may be
exercised, in whole or in part, in accordance with the following schedule:

     [__]% of the Shares subject to the Option shall vest [_______] months after
the Vesting Commencement Date, and [___] of the Shares subject to the Option
shall vest each month thereafter, subject to the Optionee continuing to be a
Service Provider on such dates.

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     Termination Period:

     This Option may be exercised for 30 (THIRTY) DAYS after (i) Optionee
voluntarily ceases to be a Service Provider or (ii) Optionees employment is
terminated for cause. In the event of an involuntary termination (not for
cause), this option may be exercised 90 (NINETY) DAYS after Optionee ceases to
be a Service Provider. Upon the death or Disability of the Optionee, this Option
may be exercised for SIX MONTHS after Optionee ceases to be a Service Provider.
In no event shall this Option be exercised later than the Term/Expiration Date
as provided above.

II.  AGREEMENT

     A.   Grant of Option.

          The Plan Administrator of the Company hereby grants to the Optionee
named in the Notice of Grant attached as Part I of this Agreement (the
"Optionee") an option (the "Option") to purchase the number of Shares, as set
forth in the Notice of Grant, at the exercise price per share set forth in the
Notice of Grant (the "Exercise Price"), subject to the terms and conditions of
the Plan, which is incorporated herein by reference. Subject to Section 15(c) of
the Plan, in the event of a conflict between the terms and conditions of the
Plan and the terms and conditions of this Option Agreement, the terms and
conditions of the Plan shall prevail.

          If designated in the Notice of Grant as an Incentive Stock Option
("ISO"), this Option is intended to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option under
Section 422 of the Code. However, if this Option is intended to be an Incentive
Stock Option, to the extent that it exceeds the $100,000 rule of Code Section
422(d) it shall be treated as a Nonstatutory Stock Option ("NSO").

     B.   Exercise of Option.

          (a) Right to Exercise. This Option is exercisable during its term in
accordance with the Vesting Schedule set out in the Notice of Grant and the
applicable provisions of the Plan and this Option Agreement.

          (b) Method of Exercise. This Option is exercisable by delivery of an
exercise notice, in the form attached as Exhibit A (the "Exercise Notice"),
which shall state the election to exercise the Option, the number of Shares in
respect of which the Option is being exercised (the "Exercised Shares"), and
such other representations and agreements as may be required by the Company
pursuant to the provisions of the Plan. The Exercise Notice shall be completed
by the Optionee and delivered to the Stock Plan Administrator of the Company.
The Exercise Notice shall be accompanied by payment of the aggregate Exercise
Price as to all Exercised Shares. This Option shall be deemed to be exercised
upon receipt by the Company of such fully executed Exercise Notice accompanied
by such aggregate Exercise Price.

          No Shares shall be issued pursuant to the exercise of this Option
unless such issuance and exercise complies with Applicable Laws. Assuming such
compliance, for income tax purposes the Exercised Shares shall be considered
transferred to the Optionee on the date the Option is exercised with respect to
such Exercised Shares.

                                       -2-

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     C.   Method of Payment.

          Payment of the aggregate Exercise Price shall be by any of the
following, or a combination thereof, at the election of the Optionee:

          1. cash; or

          2. check; or

          3. consideration received by the Company under a cashless exercise
program implemented by the Company in connection with the Plan; or

          4. surrender of other Shares which (i) in the case of Shares acquired
upon exercise of an option, have been owned by the Optionee for more than six
(6) months on the date of surrender, and (ii) have a Fair Market Value on the
date of surrender equal to the aggregate Exercise Price of the Exercised Shares.

     D.   Non-Transferability of Option.

          This Option may not be transferred in any manner otherwise than by
will or by the laws of descent or distribution and may be exercised during the
lifetime of Optionee only by the Optionee. The terms of the Plan and this Option
Agreement shall be binding upon the executors, administrators, heirs, successors
and assigns of the Optionee.

     E.   Term of Option.

          This Option may be exercised only within the term set out in the
Notice of Grant, and may be exercised during such term only in accordance with
the Plan and the terms of this Option Agreement.

     F.   Tax Consequences.

          Some of the federal tax consequences relating to this Option, as of
the date of this Option, are set forth below. THIS SUMMARY IS NECESSARILY
INCOMPLETE, AND THE TAX LAWS AND REGULATIONS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE. THE OPTIONEE
SHOULD CONSULT A TAX ADVISER BEFORE EXERCISING THIS OPTION OR DISPOSING OF THE
SHARES.

     G.   Exercising the Option.

          1. Nonstatutory Stock Option. The Optionee may incur regular federal
income tax liability upon exercise of a NSO. The Optionee will be treated as
having received compensation income (taxable at ordinary income tax rates) equal
to the excess, if any, of the Fair Market Value of the Exercised Shares on the
date of exercise over their aggregate Exercise Price. If the Optionee is an
Employee or a former Employee, the Company will be required to withhold from his
or her compensation or collect from Optionee and pay to the applicable taxing
authorities an amount in cash equal to a percentage of this compensation income
at the time of exercise, and may refuse to

                                       -3-

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honor the exercise and refuse to deliver Shares if such withholding amounts are
not delivered at the time of exercise.

          2. Incentive Stock Option. If this Option qualifies as an ISO, the
Optionee will have no regular federal income tax liability upon its exercise,
although the excess, if any, of the Fair Market Value of the Exercised Shares on
the date of exercise over their aggregate Exercise Price will be treated as an
adjustment to alternative minimum taxable income for federal tax purposes and
may subject the Optionee to alternative minimum tax in the year of exercise. In
the event that the Optionee ceases to be an Employee but remains a Service
Provider, any Incentive Stock Option of the Optionee that remains unexercised
shall cease to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option and will be treated for tax
purposes as a Nonstatutory Stock Option on the date three (3) months and one (1)
day following such change of status.

          3. Disposition of Shares.

               (a) NSO. If the Optionee holds NSO Shares for at least one year,
any gain realized on disposition of the Shares will be treated as long-term
capital gain for federal income tax purposes.

               (b) ISO. If the Optionee holds ISO Shares for at least one year
after exercise and two years after the grant date, any gain realized on
disposition of the Shares will be treated as long-term capital gain for federal
income tax purposes. If the Optionee disposes of ISO Shares within one year
after exercise or two years after the grant date, any gain realized on such
disposition will be treated as compensation income (taxable at ordinary income
rates) to the extent of the excess, if any, of the lesser of (A) the difference
between the Fair Market Value of the Shares acquired on the date of exercise and
the aggregate Exercise Price, or (B) the difference between the sale price of
such Shares and the aggregate Exercise Price. Any additional gain will be taxed
as capital gain, short-term or long-term depending on the period that the ISO
Shares were held.

               (c) Notice of Disqualifying Disposition of ISO Shares. If the
Optionee sells or otherwise disposes of any of the Shares acquired pursuant to
an ISO on or before the later of (i) two years after the grant date, or (ii) one
year after the exercise date, the Optionee shall immediately notify the Company
in writing of such disposition. The Optionee agrees that he or she may be
subject to income tax withholding by the Company on the compensation income
recognized from such early disposition of ISO Shares by payment in cash or out
of the current earnings paid to the Optionee.

     H.   Entire Agreement; Governing Law.

          The Plan is incorporated herein by reference. The Plan and this Option
Agreement constitute the entire agreement of the parties with respect to the
subject matter hereof and supersede in their entirety all prior undertakings and
agreements of the Company and Optionee with respect to the subject matter
hereof, and may not be modified adversely to the Optionee's interest except by
means of a writing signed by the Company and Optionee. This agreement is
governed by the internal substantive laws, but not the choice of law rules, of
Delaware.

                                       -4-

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                        NO GUARANTEE OF CONTINUED SERVICE

          OPTIONEE ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT THE VESTING OF SHARES PURSUANT
TO THE VESTING SCHEDULE HEREOF IS EARNED ONLY BY CONTINUING AS A SERVICE
PROVIDER AT THE WILL OF THE COMPANY (AND NOT THROUGH THE ACT OF BEING HIRED,
BEING GRANTED AN OPTION OR PURCHASING SHARES HEREUNDER). OPTIONEE FURTHER
ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT THIS AGREEMENT, THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED
HEREUNDER AND THE VESTING SCHEDULE SET FORTH HEREIN DO NOT CONSTITUTE AN EXPRESS
OR IMPLIED PROMISE OF CONTINUED ENGAGEMENT AS A SERVICE PROVIDER FOR THE VESTING
PERIOD, FOR ANY PERIOD, OR AT ALL, AND SHALL NOT INTERFERE WITH OPTIONEE'S RIGHT
OR THE COMPANY'S RIGHT TO TERMINATE OPTIONEE'S RELATIONSHIP AS A SERVICE
PROVIDER AT ANY TIME, WITH OR WITHOUT CAUSE.

     By your signature and the signature of the Company's representative below,
you and the Company agree that this Option is granted under and governed by the
terms and conditions of the Plan and this Option Agreement. Optionee has
reviewed the Plan and this Option Agreement in their entirety, has had an
opportunity to obtain the advice of counsel prior to executing this Option
Agreement and fully understands all provisions of the Plan and Option Agreement.
Optionee hereby agrees to accept as binding, conclusive and final all decisions
or interpretations of the Administrator upon any questions relating to the Plan
and Option Agreement. Optionee further agrees to notify the Company upon any
change in the residence address indicated below.

OPTIONEE:                               NUANCE COMMUNICATIONS, INC.

                                        /s/ Paul A. Ricci
-------------------------------------   ----------------------------------------
Signature                               By

-------------------------------------   ----------------------------------------
(FName) (LName)                         Title

-------------------------------------
Residence Address

-------------------------------------

                                       -5-
<PAGE>

                                    EXHIBIT A

                           NUANCE COMMUNICATIONS, INC.

                                 2000 STOCK PLAN

                                 EXERCISE NOTICE

Nuance Communications, Inc.
One Wayside Road
Burlington, MA 01803

Attention: Stock Plan Administrator

     1. Exercise of Option. Effective as of today, ________________, _____, the
undersigned ("Purchaser") hereby elects to purchase ______________ shares (the
"Shares") of the Common Stock of Nuance Communications, Inc. (the "Company")
under and pursuant to the 2000 Stock Plan (the "Plan") and the Stock Option
Agreement dated, ______ (the "Option Agreement"). The purchase price for the
Shares shall be $_____, as required by the Option Agreement.

     2. Delivery of Payment. Purchaser herewith delivers to the Company the full
purchase price for the Shares.

     3. Representations of Purchaser. Purchaser acknowledges that Purchaser has
received, read and understood the Plan and the Option Agreement and agrees to
abide by and be bound by their terms and conditions.

     4. Rights as Shareholder. Until the issuance (as evidenced by the
appropriate entry on the books of the Company or of a duly authorized transfer
agent of the Company) of the Shares, no right to vote or receive dividends or
any other rights as a shareholder shall exist with respect to the Optioned
Stock, notwithstanding the exercise of the Option. The Shares so acquired shall
be issued to the Optionee as soon as practicable after exercise of the Option.
No adjustment will be made for a dividend or other right for which the record
date is prior to the date of issuance, except as provided in Section 13 of the
Plan.

     5. Tax Consultation. Purchaser understands that Purchaser may suffer
adverse tax consequences as a result of Purchaser's purchase or disposition of
the Shares. Purchaser represents that Purchaser has consulted with any tax
consultants Purchaser deems advisable in connection with the purchase or
disposition of the Shares and that Purchaser is not relying on the Company for
any tax advice.

<PAGE>

     6. Entire Agreement; Governing Law. The Plan and Option Agreement are
incorporated herein by reference. This Agreement, the Plan and the Option
Agreement constitute the entire agreement of the parties with respect to the
subject matter hereof and supersede in their entirety all prior undertakings and
agreements of the Company and Purchaser with respect to the subject matter
hereof, and may not be modified adversely to the Purchaser's interest except by
means of a writing signed by the Company and Purchaser. This agreement is
governed by the internal substantive laws, but not the choice of law rules, of
Delaware.

Submitted by:                           Accepted by:

PURCHASER:                              NUANCE COMMUNICATIONS, INC.

-------------------------------------   ----------------------------------------
Signature                               By

-------------------------------------   ----------------------------------------
Print Name                              Its

Address:                                Address:

                                        NUANCE COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
-------------------------------------

-------------------------------------

                                        ----------------------------------------
                                        Date Received

                                       -2-

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