A favourite device of lecturers is to take a key word in the title of their speech and quote its definition from the pages of Webster's dictionary. Even though this may be mildly insulting to the audience—especially if the word being defined is something simple like “aviation”—it immediately gets the listeners onto the same track with the speaker. If nothing else, it proves the speaker at least knows how to spellthe key word in his speech and establishes his credentials as an expert in the field being discussed.

I would like to show you how informed I am by starting with a Webster's dictionary definition of “general aviation”, the key element in my speech title. Unfortunately, I cannot find it in my dictionary, and I doubt if you can find it in your Oxford dictionary. In the eyes of the lexicographers, “general aviation” simply does not exist. But you and I know it doesexist, and I would still like to start with a definition of it.