Academic Indonesian makes the architecture of an argument visible. Phrases such as berdasarkan, sehubungan dengan, di satu pihak, oleh sebab itu, and namun demikian do not merely make prose sound formal: they identify a source of evidence, establish relevance, balance perspectives, license an inference, or preserve a concession.
This page treats these expressions as discourse signposts and introduces metadiscourse—language through which a writer tells readers what the text is doing. It does not replace the complete syntax of individual conjunctions. The central discipline is logical: use a formal marker only when the relation it names is actually present.
For the difference between an external event's consequence and a writer's inference, compare cause and result markers.
A functional map
| Signpost | Argument function | Typical form |
|---|---|---|
| berdasarkan | identifies the evidence, rule, or source used as a basis | berdasarkan + noun phrase |
| sehubungan dengan | frames the matter to which the statement responds or relates | sehubungan dengan + noun phrase |
| di satu pihak ... di pihak lain ... | balances two perspectives or effects | paired frames |
| oleh sebab itu | presents a conclusion or consequence licensed by prior material | sentence connector |
| namun demikian | acknowledges the prior point but limits its expected implication | sentence connector |
Berdasarkan data sensus, proporsi penduduk perkotaan terus meningkat.
Based on census data, the proportion of the urban population continues to increase. (academic)
Sehubungan dengan temuan tersebut, bagian berikut membahas perubahan pola perjalanan.
In relation to that finding, the following section discusses changes in travel patterns. (academic)
Di satu pihak, pembangunan jalan mempercepat mobilitas; di pihak lain, proyek tersebut mengurangi ruang hijau.
On the one hand, road construction speeds up mobility; on the other, the project reduces green space. (academic)
Biaya pemeliharaan meningkat tajam. Oleh sebab itu, model pendanaan lama perlu ditinjau kembali.
Maintenance costs rose sharply. Therefore, the old funding model needs to be reviewed. (academic)
Jumlah responden cukup besar. Namun demikian, sampel tersebut belum mewakili wilayah kepulauan.
The number of respondents is quite large. Nevertheless, the sample does not yet represent the archipelagic regions. (academic)
Berdasarkan identifies a warranted basis
Berdasarkan + noun phrase names the evidence, regulation, theory, or observation on which a proposition rests (formal or academic). The following claim should be one that the named basis can genuinely support.
Berdasarkan hasil wawancara, sebagian besar peserta mengalami kendala jaringan.
Based on the interview results, most participants experienced network problems. (academic)
Berdasarkan Pasal 12, pemohon berhak mengajukan keberatan secara tertulis.
Under Article 12, the applicant is entitled to submit a written objection. (legal-academic)
Peneliti mengelompokkan jawaban berdasarkan tema yang muncul secara berulang.
The researchers grouped the responses according to themes that appeared repeatedly. (academic)
Berdasarkan pengamatan selama enam bulan, pola kunjungan berubah setelah tarif baru diberlakukan.
On the basis of six months of observation, visitation patterns changed after the new tariff took effect. (academic)
The phrase may frame the whole sentence initially or attach more narrowly to a method. In initial position, a comma marks the boundary. Do not use berdasarkan saya for personal opinion; use menurut saya.
Sehubungan dengan establishes relevance
Sehubungan dengan + noun phrase means “in relation to / regarding.” It is frequent in institutional correspondence and formal exposition. It announces what a statement responds to; it does not itself mean that the topic caused the following event.
Sehubungan dengan perubahan metode pengukuran, hasil kedua periode tidak dapat dibandingkan secara langsung.
In relation to the change in measurement method, the results from the two periods cannot be compared directly. (academic)
Sehubungan dengan keterbatasan data, analisis difokuskan pada tiga kabupaten.
Given the data limitations relevant here, the analysis is focused on three regencies. (academic)
Sehubungan dengan pertanyaan penelitian pertama, temuan menunjukkan adanya perbedaan antarkelompok.
With regard to the first research question, the findings indicate a difference between groups. (academic)
Sehubungan dengan permintaan revisi, penulis telah menambahkan uraian tentang prosedur pengambilan sampel.
Regarding the revision request, the author has added an account of the sampling procedure. (formal)
The expression is written as three separate words. Because it can sound bureaucratic, prefer simpler mengenai when no institutional or argumentative framing is needed.
Di satu pihak balances an argument
The pair di satu pihak ... di pihak lain ... prevents a discussion from presenting one effect as the whole picture. Both sides need not be equally strong, but they must be comparable dimensions of one issue.
Di satu pihak, kelas daring memperluas akses; di pihak lain, mutu interaksi sulit dipertahankan.
On the one hand, online classes broaden access; on the other, the quality of interaction is difficult to maintain. (academic)
Di satu pihak, subsidi menekan harga bagi konsumen. Di pihak lain, kebijakan itu menambah beban anggaran negara.
On the one hand, subsidies reduce prices for consumers. On the other, the policy adds to the state budget burden. (academic)
Di satu pihak, data besar memungkinkan analisis yang lebih rinci; di pihak lain, pengumpulannya menimbulkan persoalan privasi.
On the one hand, big data enable more detailed analysis; on the other, their collection raises privacy concerns. (academic)
Use commas after the initial frames. A semicolon can clarify the division when two independent clauses are balanced inside one sentence.
Oleh sebab itu makes an inference explicit
Sentence-initial Oleh sebab itu, tells the reader that the next proposition follows as a conclusion, recommendation, or consequence from the immediately relevant premises (formal or academic). It is written as three words and followed by a comma.
Tingkat kesalahan antarpengode masih tinggi. Oleh sebab itu, pedoman pengodean perlu diperjelas.
The error rate between coders remains high. Therefore, the coding guidelines need to be clarified. (academic)
Dua variabel utama tidak dikendalikan dalam eksperimen. Oleh sebab itu, hubungan kausal belum dapat dipastikan.
Two major variables were not controlled in the experiment. Therefore, a causal relationship cannot yet be established. (academic)
Sebagian arsip rusak akibat banjir. Oleh sebab itu, penelitian ini menggunakan sumber pembanding dari surat kabar.
Some archives were damaged by flooding. Therefore, this study uses comparative sources from newspapers. (academic)
The phrase does more than continue the text. If the conclusion could not plausibly follow, the connector advertises a logical gap rather than repairing it.
Namun demikian concedes and limits
Namun demikian, acknowledges the preceding proposition while blocking an inference a reader might otherwise draw from it. It is stronger and more explicitly concessive than a bare internal tetapi, and it typically opens a new sentence (formal or academic).
Intervensi tersebut menurunkan waktu tunggu rata-rata. Namun demikian, perbedaannya tidak signifikan pada jam sibuk.
The intervention reduced average waiting time. Nevertheless, the difference was not significant during peak hours. (academic)
Teori ini menjelaskan sebagian besar data. Namun demikian, dua kasus penting tetap tidak terjelaskan.
This theory explains most of the data. Nevertheless, two important cases remain unexplained. (academic)
Survei daring menghemat biaya pengumpulan data. Namun demikian, metode ini dapat mengecualikan responden tanpa akses internet.
Online surveys reduce data-collection costs. Nevertheless, this method can exclude respondents without internet access. (academic)
The first proposition remains valid. Namun demikian changes what that proposition is allowed to imply; it does not erase it.
Metadiscourse: showing what the text is doing
Academic writers also guide readers with clauses that refer to the organization or evidential moves of the text itself. These are not empty announcements when they help readers navigate a complex argument.
Bagian ini menguraikan tiga faktor yang memengaruhi keputusan rumah tangga.
This section describes three factors that influence household decisions. (academic metadiscourse)
Sebagaimana ditunjukkan pada Tabel 2, kenaikan terbesar terjadi pada kelompok usia muda.
As shown in Table 2, the largest increase occurred in the younger age group. (academic metadiscourse)
Perlu dicatat bahwa korelasi tersebut tidak membuktikan hubungan sebab-akibat.
It should be noted that the correlation does not prove a causal relationship. (academic caution)
Uraian berikut membandingkan kedua pendekatan dari segi biaya dan ketepatan.
The following discussion compares the two approaches in terms of cost and accuracy. (academic metadiscourse)
Untuk menjawab pertanyaan tersebut, penelitian ini membedakan akses fisik dari akses ekonomi.
To answer that question, this study distinguishes physical access from economic access. (academic metadiscourse)
A controlled four-part argument
The following miniature discussion moves through an introduction, evidence paragraph, concession, and conclusion. Each signpost names a real argumentative move.
Introduction
Kajian ini menilai pengaruh layanan perpustakaan keliling terhadap kebiasaan membaca di tiga desa pesisir.
This study assesses the effect of mobile-library services on reading habits in three coastal villages. (academic introduction)
Untuk menjelaskan variasi hasil, analisis membedakan frekuensi kunjungan dari jumlah buku yang tersedia.
To explain variation in the results, the analysis distinguishes visit frequency from the number of books available. (academic introduction)
Evidence paragraph
Berdasarkan catatan peminjaman, jumlah buku yang dibawa pulang meningkat setelah jadwal kunjungan dibuat tetap.
Based on borrowing records, the number of books taken home increased after a regular visiting schedule was established. (academic evidence)
Sebagaimana terlihat pada Gambar 3, peningkatan paling konsisten terjadi di desa yang dikunjungi dua kali sebulan.
As seen in Figure 3, the most consistent increase occurred in the village visited twice a month. (academic evidence)
Concession
Di satu pihak, data peminjaman menunjukkan kenaikan partisipasi. Di pihak lain, data tersebut tidak mencatat buku yang benar-benar selesai dibaca.
On the one hand, borrowing data show increased participation. On the other, the data do not record which books were actually finished. (academic concession)
Jumlah wawancara juga terbatas. Namun demikian, jawaban peserta memperlihatkan pola yang sama di ketiga desa.
The number of interviews is also limited. Nevertheless, participants' responses show the same pattern in all three villages. (academic concession)
Conclusion
Keteraturan jadwal berkaitan dengan peningkatan peminjaman di seluruh lokasi. Oleh sebab itu, keberlanjutan layanan perlu diprioritaskan sebelum jumlah koleksi ditambah.
Schedule regularity is associated with increased borrowing at all locations. Therefore, service continuity should be prioritized before the collection is expanded. (academic conclusion)
Sehubungan dengan keterbatasan pengukuran, penelitian lanjutan perlu mencatat durasi membaca selain jumlah peminjaman.
In view of the measurement limitation, further research should record reading duration in addition to borrowing numbers. (academic conclusion)
Common Mistakes
1. Decorating prose with an unsupported inference marker
❌ Sampel terdiri atas seratus orang. Oleh sebab itu, hujan turun sepanjang minggu.
Illogical connection—the weather does not follow from the sample size.
✅ Sampel hanya berasal dari satu kota. Oleh sebab itu, hasilnya tidak dapat digeneralisasi ke seluruh provinsi.
The sample comes from only one city. Therefore, the results cannot be generalized to the whole province. (academic)
2. Treating sehubungan dengan as a causal conjunction
❌ Sehubungan dengan listrik padam karena sebuah pohon tumbang.
Ill-formed structure—sehubungan dengan requires a noun phrase and does not itself state cause.
✅ Sehubungan dengan pemadaman listrik, pengumpulan data ditunda hingga hari berikutnya.
In relation to the power outage, data collection was postponed until the next day. (formal)
3. Opening a balance without its counterpart
❌ Di satu pihak, metode ini murah. Kesimpulannya, metode ini harus dipakai.
Incomplete balance—di satu pihak promises another relevant perspective.
✅ Di satu pihak, metode ini murah; di pihak lain, tingkat kesalahannya cukup tinggi.
On the one hand, this method is inexpensive; on the other, its error rate is fairly high. (academic)
4. Confusing personal opinion with an evidential basis
❌ Berdasarkan saya, pendekatan kedua lebih meyakinkan.
Incorrect source framing—personal viewpoint takes menurut, not berdasarkan.
✅ Menurut saya, pendekatan kedua lebih meyakinkan karena datanya lebih lengkap.
In my opinion, the second approach is more convincing because its data are more complete.
5. Fusing a multiword signpost
❌ Namundemikian, hasil awal tetap perlu ditafsirkan dengan hati-hati.
Incorrect spacing—namun demikian is two words.
✅ Namun demikian, hasil awal tetap perlu ditafsirkan dengan hati-hati karena ukuran sampelnya kecil.
Nevertheless, the initial results still need to be interpreted cautiously because the sample is small. (academic)
Key Takeaways
- Berdasarkan names a basis; sehubungan dengan frames relevance.
- Di satu pihak ... di pihak lain ... makes a genuine two-sided structure visible.
- Oleh sebab itu licenses an inference; namun demikian preserves a point while limiting its implication.
- Academic signposts work only when the logical relation is already defensible.
Now practice Indonesian
Reading grammar gets you part of the way. The exercises are where it sticks — free, no signup needed.
Start learning Indonesian →Related Topics
- Academic IndonesianC1 — Build definitions, cautious claims, citations, methodological passives, nominalizations, metadiscourse, and logically staged academic paragraphs.
- Nominalization in Academic and Bureaucratic ProseC2 — Parse and revise dense formal prose built from peN-...-an, per-...-an, participant phrases, and suppressed agents.
- Cause and Consequence in DiscourseB1 — Distinguish real-world causes and effects from conclusions that a speaker draws across sentences and genres.
- Contrast: tetapi, namun, sedangkan, sebaliknyaB1 — Organize contrast by choosing markers for internal coordination, sentence-level counterpoint, parallel comparison, and reversal.
- Summarizing and ConcludingB2 — Close a passage by distinguishing compressed summary, explicit conclusion, logical inference, and a final temporal outcome.
- Core Indonesian PunctuationA2 — Use Indonesian full stops, commas, semicolons, colons, question marks, and exclamation marks according to clause structure.