Existing paradigms of interpreting at community level are examined in order to determine which possibilities may be considered for the South African situation. Since this type of interpreting has already been investigated on a worldwide basis, some insight should be gained from an overview of the terminology, role definitions and implementation models which are used by various schools of thought. In the light thereof, the problematics of the South African context may be considered anew, so that possible applications of existing models, as well as any shifts of emphasis which will probably be necessary, may be considered.