Well, since this thread isn't entirely dead.
If you approach the DDJ you may be interested in Bradford Hatcher's matrix translation.
Also, you should at least have a background in Classical Chinese; this would make the process of translation quite more straight-forward, instead of a hit-and-miss combinatorial approach. For this, E. G. Pulleyblank's Outline of Classical Chinese Grammar tends to float around online and provides a sufficient (albeit not cutting edge) framework. Still, it's a long way ahead from the 'Chinese is just a bunch of ideograms thrown together for good measure', and quite helpful.
