Leading sociolinguists Lesley and James Milroy explore the perennially topical and controversial notion of 'correct' and 'incorrect' language. In this fully revised and updated third edition, they: engage directly with the most recent arguments in the long-running debate over the teaching of Standard English in Britain compare the langauge ideologies in Britain and the USA, invovling a discussion of the English Only movement and the Ebonics controversy The authors consider the historical process of standardisation and its social consequences, in particlualr discrimination against low status and ethnic minority groups on the basis of their language traits. Authority in Language is indispensable for educationalists, teachers and linguists, and ideal for courses in sociolinguistics, modern English grammar, history of English and language ideology.