An authoring system is a program that has pre-programmed elements for the development of interactive multimedia software titles.
[1] In the development of educational software, an authoring system is a program that allows a non-programmer, usually an instructional designer or technologist, to easily create software with programming features.
Generally authoring systems provide many graphics, much interaction, and other tools educational software needs.
An authoring language is a programming language used to create tutorials, computer-based training courseware, websites, CD-ROMs and other interactive computer programs.
Authoring systems (packages) generally provide high-level visual tools that enable a complete system to be designed without writing any programming code, although the authoring language is there for more in-depth usage.