Does anyone know what the best spell for countering (dipelling) silence is?

The second level mage spell 'vocalise'. Only works on the caster, though.

If a character has already been silenced, but another spellcaster hasn't, dispel magic usually works. Spreading your party out alittle can help keep them all from getting silenced and remember when you cast silence it effects your party members as well,caster included, this is how I found out dispel magic works.

I think amulet of power permanently voclises you!