조선어사전 편찬은 국어연구학회(1908)로부터 조선어연구회에 이르기까지 조선어학회의 중요한 과업이었다. 초창기부터 나름대로 노력했으나 뚜렷한 성과를 내지 못하다가, 1929년 한글날에 조선민족 각계의 인사로 조선어사전편찬회를 발기하여 사전 편찬 작업을 본격화하였다. 하지만 작업이 원활하게 진행되지 않아 1936년 4월에는 편찬회를 해산하고 모든 일을 조선어학회에서 실행하였다. 그렇게 사업을 진행하는 중에도 여러 위기를 겪었다. 재정적인 어려움은 기본이요, 말로 다할 수 없는 `조선어학회 수난`까지 겪었으며, 민족 분단과 6·25 전쟁의 피해도 있었다. 하지만 끝내 포기하지 않고 작업을 계속하여 1957년에 `민족적 권위`를 가진 대사전을 완간하였다. 조선민족의 머리와 손과 힘으로 이루어 낸 한겨레말 사전, 『(조선말) 큰사전』이었다. 그것은 조선민족 말글살이의 준거가 되었으며, 그 이후 모든 한국어사전의 본보기가 되고 출발점이 되었다. 사전 편찬과 병행하여 「한글맞춤법 통일안」, 「외래어 표기법 통일안」, 「일본어음 표기법」 등을 제정하였다. 그 모두 조선민족의 자유 의지로 이루어 낸 `조선어의 한글 표기법`이며, 『(조선말) 큰사전』 탄생의 초석이 되었다. 특히 「한글맞춤법 통일안」은 조선어의 특성을 제대로 반영하고 조선민족의 지혜를 결집한 것으로, 단기간에 한국어 공동체의 공식 표기법으로 자리 잡았다. 어휘 수집과 표준어 사정(査定), 각종 표기법 제정, 대사전의 편찬과 간행, 그 하나하나가 방대한 사업인데, 조선어학회는 제 한 몸 가누기도 어렵던 질곡 속에서 그런 모든 일을 한꺼번에 성공적으로 해내었다. 그러한 희생과 노력이 있었기에 8·15 광복과 동시에 한겨레는 시행착오 없이 겨레말 교육에 매진할 수 있었던 것이다. 또 하나 중요한 점은 그런 일들을 광범위한 참여 속에서 진행했다는 점이다. 각계각층의 사람들을 여건과 능력에 따라 참여하게 했으며, 자유롭지 못한 여건 속에서도 공론의 과정을 거치는 데에 소홀하지 않았다. 그렇게 함으로써 폭넓은 관심과 공감과 신뢰를 얻게 되었고, 그것은 성공의 밑거름이 되었다. 실로 조선어학회의 어문규범 갖추기는 민족의 총력―지력, 금력, 심력이 조화롭게 융합된 결정체였다.
Compilation of Korean language dictionary was a crucial task for each of the Society from `the Gugeo Yeongu Hakhoe`(국어연구학회) to `the Joseoneo Hakhoe`(조선어학회, the Joseon Language Society). But, due to several reasons, it wasn`t achieved. On Hangeul Day in 1929, some famous people from various areas of the Korean race established `the Committee for Compilation of Joseon Language Dictionary`(조선어사전 편찬회) and kicked into high gear to work for it. In April, 1936, it was dispersed and instead the Joseoneo Hakhoe became to plan and execute all the work for it. While they worked for compilation and publication of it, they had to pass through many crises. They were suffered from financial difficulties as well as `the ordeal of the Joseoneo Hakhoe` which can`t be described in words. They were also damaged by the Korean War. But they were never disappointed but continued their work for compilation and publication of it. Finally, they made a dictionary, with pro `racial authority`, which they had been longing for such a long time. It was (Joseonmal) Keunsajeon (조선말 큰사전, the Unabridged Dictionary for Joseon language) that was made by brains, hands and powers of the Korean race. It became a criterion of verbal and written language life for the Korean race. Since then, it has become a model as well as starting point for all of the dictionaries of Korean language. In parallel with compilation of the dictionary, “Hangeul Matchumbeop Tongilan”(한글맞춤법 통일안, the unified draft for Korean language orthography), “the unified draft for loan-word orthography” and “the phonetic transcription for Japanese language” were established. All of them were the Hangeul orthography for Korean language made by free-will of the Korean race and they became the foundation for the birth of (Joseonmal) Keunsajeon. Especially, as not only characteristics of Korean language is properly reflected in “Hangeul Matchumbeop Tongilan” but also wisdom of the Korean race is gathered and united in it, it has been positioned in a short period of time as an official orthography for communities where the Korean language is used. Each of assessment for standard language, establishment of orthography, compilation and publication of unabridged dictionary is so vast to accomplish but the Joseoneo Hakhoe made them successful in such an ordeal period when it wasn`t easy for every body to live their own lives through. Looking ahead the future of the Korean race in deep darkness, they carried out in silence and with prudence to arrange the basis for refined and smooth verbal and written language life. Due to such an insight, efforts and sacrifice, the Korean race could have strived for the language education for the Korean race without any trials-and-errors at the same time when they were independent from Japan. Another important point to mention is that the above was processed with vast participations. The people from all ranks and classes in Seoul and other regions were made to participate depending upon their individual conditions and abilities, and also it wasn`t neglected to go through the process to have public opinions even under the restricted conditions. By doing that, not only social concerns and interests were gathered but also trust and sympathy were gained, which made it successful for the Joseoneo Hakhoe to arrange norms for verbal and written Korean language. Truly, arrangement of norms for both verbal and written Korean language by the Joseoneo Hakhoe is a kind of a crystal total power of the race is blended with harmony; the power of wisdom, the power of wealth and the power of mind.