Professional translations into and from Malay by the translation agency Fasttranslator

The difference between Malay in Malaysia and Malay in Indonesia

There are minor differences between the Malay spoken in Malaysia and in Indonesia. The Malaysian language is called Bahasa Melayu in Malaysia and Bahasa Indonesia in Indonesia. However, the linguistic differences are small and correspond to the differences between English spoken in the US and in the UK. Malay belongs to the Austronesian language family. The first written evidence of Old Malay dates back to the seventh century. Linguistic influences from the Indian and Persian region are traceable, as Buddhism came to Malaysia from India. Influences from the Arab region are evident as well, in that Malay characters are Arabic characters. By employing exclusively native speaking translators, you can be absolutely sure of the quality of our translations. In addition to the more than 150 languages we also cover every subject area. Whether you work in the fields of medicine, law, or economics - we find the right translator for every project! Experience our services for yourself by getting into contact with us.

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Already during colonial times, a standard vernacular had emerged in Malaysia. This resulted from a uniform educational system that the English had introduced to Malaysia. When the multi-ethnic country of Malaysia was finally given independence, it possessed a standardized official language: the Bahasa Melayu. As stipulated by law, this official language was to be used in all print and broadcast media. In contrast, the Dutch colonial government officially introduced the Latin script in Indonesia. In light of Indonesia declaring its independence after the Second World War, Bahasa Indonesia became the country’s official language. From its origins in East Sumatra, this language spread across the entirety of Indonesia.

How much does a translation into Malay cost?

The standard rate for translations from English into Malay is $ 0,22 per word and for translations from Malay into English the industry rate is $ 0,24. For new customers or large texts (more than 5,000 words) we may significantly reduce our rates. For urgent jobs that need several translators working simultaneously, we'll apply a surcharge. For a full list of rates per language, please visit Rates table for most requested language combinations.

Malay today

A few decades ago, Malaysia and Indonesia agreed on uniformly implementing the Latin script. The Arabic alphabet which up to that point was common in Malaysia was abolished. Malay orthography was standardized in Malaysia and Indonesia as well. The inhabitants of both countries are able to communicate very well with each other. Nowadays, there has also been an increase in words from other languages spoken in the Indonesian region finding their way into Malay. These include words and phrases from Javanese in particular. Regarding the pronunciation of some Malay words, there are many influences of the English colonialists in Malaysia and the Dutch in Indonesia that can be still be detected today. If you ever have business or private documents that you would like to have translated into or from Malay, contact our expert project managers by phone or by email. We are happy to advise you and always find the right translator for your project!