When commissioning Indonesian content, describe the people who will read it and the purpose it must serve. A document for submission, a corporate announcement and a product help page need different briefs even when all three use Indonesian.
Include the destination market, intended tone, approved terminology and any requirements for the final format. These details give the translator a basis for decisions and give you a basis for reviewing the result.
Identify the language and audience precisely
Use “Indonesian” or “Bahasa Indonesia” in the brief and specify the translation direction. If another language or regional variety appears in the source, flag it for assessment instead of assuming that every passage can be handled under the same scope.
Indonesian developed from Malay and has a role connecting communities with different language backgrounds. Badan Bahasa discusses that development in its account of Indonesian as a unifying language. That shared history does not establish that Indonesian and Malaysian Malay copy can be used interchangeably for a particular audience.
Our Indonesian and Malay guide explains the practical checks when adapting existing material.
Choose the register and references
Tell the translator whether readers need formal institutional language, clear professional prose or a more conversational style. Supply approved examples if you have them, and explain what should be retained: product terminology, organisation names, document references or an established form of address.
For standard Indonesian, KBBI VI Daring is an official dictionary reference, while EYD V is the official fifth-edition spelling guide. They support word and spelling decisions. They do not by themselves resolve every specialised term or determine the tone appropriate to your readers.
When a term is unfamiliar, provide its definition or the relevant technical material. Do not select a translation solely because a word resembles an English term. The intended meaning and subject context need to remain clear throughout the text.
Review facts as well as wording
Give the translator confirmed names, product labels and reference spellings. Identify dates, units, currencies and numerical information that need special care. For source documents, flag inconsistencies rather than asking for silent factual corrections in the translation.
For a website or interface, inspect the wording where it will appear. A sentence may need to fit a button, explain a form field or remain clear beside an image. Agree whether that contextual review is part of the job and provide the material needed to perform it.
Illustrative example: check that the same product feature has the same approved label in a menu and its help page, then record that label for future updates.
Separate publication copy from submission requirements
A website translation brief concerns the message and audience. A document submitted to an institution also needs its requirements checked: language, translator qualifications, certification and delivery format. Do not infer a sworn translation requirement from the fact that a document is important or written in Indonesian.
Use the document requirements guide for that check. For an enquiry, contact Translation.co.id with the text type, language direction, audience, intended use and deadline. Confirm the scope and file-sharing arrangements before sending sensitive materials.