Learn Hardcore Indonesian: Panitia pelatihan mengumumkan bahwa kami bisa mendaftar mulai hari ini. - The training committee announces that we can register starting today.

The order is fixed. In Indonesian noun–noun compounds, the head comes first, so panitia pelatihan = “the committee (for) training” → “training committee.”
Reversing it to pelatihan panitia changes the meaning to “training (of the) committee,” which is different.
If you need to be explicit that it’s a specific, known committee, add a demonstrative: panitia pelatihan itu/tersebut.

Do I need “itu” or “tersebut” to mean “the training committee”?

Not necessarily. Indonesian usually leaves definiteness to context. Panitia pelatihan can mean “a/the training committee.”
Add itu (“that/the”) or tersebut (“the aforementioned,” formal) only if you want to point to a specific committee already known in the discourse:
- Panitia pelatihan itu mengumumkan…
- Panitia pelatihan tersebut mengumumkan… (more formal)

Is “bahwa” required after “mengumumkan”? Can I use “kalau” or drop it?

bahwa is the standard complementizer “that” after reporting verbs and is a safe, neutral choice.
In informal speech, many people use kalau (“that/if”) as a complementizer: …mengumumkan kalau…
Omission is possible in casual speech, but after a formal verb like mengumumkan, dropping bahwa/kalau can sound abrupt. In writing, keep bahwa.
- Formal/neutral: Panitia pelatihan mengumumkan bahwa pendaftaran dibuka mulai hari ini.
- Informal: Panitia pelatihan mengumumkan kalau kita bisa daftar mulai hari ini.
- Very casual (not for formal use): Panitia pelatihan mengumumkan kita bisa daftar mulai hari ini.

Who is included in “kami” here? When would I use “kita” instead?

kami = “we (not including you, the listener).”
kita = “we (including you).”
In this sentence, kami implies the speaker’s group can register, but not necessarily the listener.
If addressing the public and inviting them to register, use:
- kita (inclusive): …mengumumkan bahwa kita bisa mendaftar…
- or better yet, avoid ambiguity with nouns/second person: Peserta dapat mendaftar… / Anda bisa mendaftar…

What’s the nuance difference between “bisa,” “boleh,” and “dapat” before “mendaftar”?

bisa = “can/be able to.” Common everywhere; in everyday speech it often implies permission as well.
boleh = “may/be allowed to.” Emphasizes permission.
dapat = “can/be able to.” More formal; frequent in official announcements. Examples:
kami bisa mendaftar (natural, neutral)
kami boleh mendaftar (we are allowed to)
kami dapat mendaftar (formal register)

Can I use “daftar” instead of “mendaftar”?

Yes, in casual speech daftar is often used as a verb: kami bisa daftar.
The more standard/neutral verb is mendaftar.
Related forms:
- pendaftaran = “registration” (noun)
- mendaftarkan (seseorang/dirinya) = “to register (someone/oneself)” (transitive, -kan)

Is the position of “mulai hari ini” flexible?

Yes. You can move it to change emphasis without changing the core meaning:

…bahwa kami bisa mendaftar mulai hari ini. (default)
…bahwa mulai hari ini kami bisa mendaftar. (fronted time = stronger focus on “starting today”)
…bahwa kami bisa mulai mendaftar hari ini. (“start to register” is grouped as a verb phrase) All are natural.

“Mulai hari ini,” “sejak hari ini,” “mulai dari hari ini,” and “per hari ini”: what’s the difference?

mulai hari ini = starting today (neutral, very common).
sejak hari ini = since today (often for states that continue).
mulai dari hari ini = like “mulai hari ini,” a bit more emphatic/colloquial; stylistic preference.
per hari ini = “as of today” (bureaucratic/formal). All four can work here; choose based on tone.

Does “mengumumkan” mean past (“announced”) or present (“announces”)?

Indonesian doesn’t mark tense on the verb. Time comes from context.
To make completion explicit, add markers like sudah/telah (“has/have already”):
- Panitia pelatihan telah/sudah mengumumkan bahwa…
Add time adverbs for clarity: tadi, kemarin, barusan, hari ini, etc.

Is “mengumumkan” transitive here? What is its object?

Yes. mengumumkan is transitive: you announce something.
The bahwa-clause acts as the direct object:
- Object clause: …mengumumkan bahwa kami bisa mendaftar…
You can also announce a noun phrase:
- …mengumumkan pembukaan pendaftaran mulai hari ini.
Avoid inserting tentang after mengumumkan; it’s usually unnecessary.

How would an organizer phrase this more formally/naturally in an announcement?

Use a passive or a noun subject:
- Pendaftaran (pelatihan) dibuka mulai hari ini.
- Dengan ini diumumkan bahwa pendaftaran (pelatihan) dibuka mulai hari ini. These avoid the ambiguous kami and sound more official.

What’s the difference between “pelatihan” and “latihan” in “panitia pelatihan”?

pelatihan = “training” (a program/course), from root latih with the pe- -an confix.
latihan = “practice/exercise” (e.g., sports practice). So panitia pelatihan = “training committee/organizers.” panitia latihan would suggest a “practice committee,” which is usually not what you mean.

Can I just say “Pendaftaran mulai hari ini”?

As a headline on a poster, yes—that’s a common elliptical style.
As a full sentence, prefer:
- Pendaftaran dimulai hari ini.
- Pendaftaran dibuka mulai hari ini.

Which preposition goes with “mendaftar”: di, ke, or untuk?

mendaftar untuk + kegiatan/tujuan: mendaftar untuk pelatihan/kursus/beasiswa
mendaftar ke + institusi/penyelenggara: mendaftar ke universitas itu
mendaftar di + tempat/situs: mendaftar di kantor pusat / di situs resmi In your sentence, no preposition is needed because the object is understood from context.

How would this sentence sound in different registers?

Formal: Panitia pelatihan mengumumkan bahwa pendaftaran dibuka mulai hari ini.
Neutral: Panitia pelatihan mengumumkan bahwa kami/kita bisa mendaftar mulai hari ini.
Casual (chat): Panitia pelatihan ngumumin kalau kita udah bisa daftar mulai hari ini. Note: ngumumin, udah, and bare daftar are informal.