where is bahasa indonesia originated prior to its adotion

Bahasa Indonesia originated from Malay , especially the old Malay trade and literary forms used across the Indonesian archipelago long before it was adopted as the national language. It was later standardized and officially embraced in 1928 during the Youth Congress as the language of the new nation.

Origin

• Its roots are in Austronesian Malay , not in Javanese or Dutch.

• Malay had already spread widely as a lingua franca for trade, so many communities across the islands understood it.

• Early forms were influenced by contact with Indian, Arabic, and later Dutch traders and colonial administration.

Before adoption

• Before becoming “Bahasa Indonesia,” it was used in older Malay varieties spoken in port cities and trading networks.

• It was chosen because it was widely known and less tied to one dominant ethnic group, making it easier to accept nationally.

• The formal name “Bahasa Indonesia” became important in the nationalist movement and was established in 1928.

Simple answer

So, before adoption, Bahasa Indonesia came from Malay, especially the regional trade language that developed across Sumatra, the Malay world, and the wider archipelago.