NONANTUM, MASSACHUSETTS

'Nonantum' (from a Native American word meaning "rejoicing") is one of the thirteen "villages" of Newton, Massachusetts, also known as 'Silver Lake' or 'The Lake'. The lake in question was filled with construction rubble and built over in the 1930s. The village is one of the centers of Italian population in Newton. Newton Catholic High School (now known as Trinity Catholic High School [1]) is located in the village. The commercial area has numerous restaurants and food establishments featuring Italian cuisine. A historical report can be found at [2].
Nonantum figures in early Massachusetts history as the home of Waban, one of the first Native Americans in Massachusetts to convert to Christianity. He had been taught by John Eliot.
The Lake dialect, referred to as Lake Talk, was an idiosyncratic language spoken among Italian-American locals. It was replete with idiosyncratic terms such as "divia" ("crazy"/"deviant"), and "mush" ("guy" — it rhymes with "push"), and is used as a compliment. The dialect's origins are unclear. It has been speculated that it is a blend of Italian and some World War II code, but others have seen similarities to Angloromani or Italian Gypsy slang. Many people in the village are descendants from San Donato Val di Comino, Italy.
Some famous former residents of Nonantum are actress Marianne Leone, actor Matt Leblanc and the Reverend Doctor Patrick D. Griffin, Esq.