Languages For Survival

By Tim Gamble

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From a survivalist perspective, language proficiency can be vital not only for everyday communication, but also intelligence gathering, negotiating and bartering for resources, and community building, among other purposes. In the USA, the number one language for survival is, of course, English. It is spoken by most people, and is the language of the government and infrastructure. But what other languages might also be useful? 

Useful survival languages will depend depend on a variety of factors, including your location and potential threats. Imagine this scenario: The United States experiences war with China, along with mass terrorist attacks from Islamic sleeper cells and Chinese or Russian military age males that snuck across the border. This leads to political and economic collapse, followed by a tyrannical, technocratic government controlled by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Here's how language priorities might look in that scenario:

1. English is s
   till relevant: Despite the shift in the government and power structure, English would remain the most important language due it being the primary language of the general populace, the existing infrastructure and remnants of past governance.
2. Mandarin Chinese is crucial
   : Given the direct or indirect control by the CCP, Mandarin would become the most critical language for survival. It would be essential for communication with the new authorities, understanding directives, navigating through the bureaucratic system, securing economic opportunities, and possibly for securing resources or privileges. It would be essential to any resistance movement for the acquisition and analysis of intelligence. 
3. Spanish on a community level:
   With significant Spanish-speaking populations in the US, Spanish would be crucial for community survival, local trade, and forming alliances or resistance groups. As with English, Spanish might help in preserving cultural identity or in communities where English might not be the first language.
4. Potentially Russian:
   If Russia plays a role as an ally of China in toppling the US government or controlling US territory, knowing Russian could become advantageous for intelligence, trade, or navigating through areas where Russian influence is strong.
5. Potentially Arabic and Farsi:
   If Islamic terrorist groups are involved, understanding Arabic and Farsi might help in intercepting communications, understanding threats, or negotiating with or understanding these groups.

Additional "Languages" for Survival

• Technology and Cybersecurity: Understanding the language of technology, including computer languages for coding and hacking, as well as cybersecurity jargon, would be vital since the technocratic government will use technology for control, surveillance, and propaganda.
• Sign Language and Non-Verbal Communication: In a highly controlled environment, non-verbal communication methods might become essential for covert operations or for communicating in situations where speaking is dangerous.

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A good introduction to the world of information systems and artificial intelligence is Nexus: A Brief History of Information Networks from the Stone Age to AI, by Yuval Noah Harari. It gives a history lesson that shows how the flow of information has shaped the world we live in, and how it will shape our future - providing important context for understanding the opportunities and threats AI provides. (Amazon link).