What is the meaning of _voci populi_ in this quote?

Question

There is one quote by Victor Klemperer that reads:

But there is no vox populi, only voci populi.

which seems to be a bit puzzling.

On a wiki-talk page the translation speculation runs with the possibility derived from machine translation that both form (vox/voci) might be regarded as synonyms?

But analyzing the vocabulary and grammar shows that voci is the 3rd person dative singular for 'voice'. And that these two forms of vox (that entry lists Italian etymologies, but Klemperer wrote mainly in German; so any play of words might use any of the three languages, especially since this should most probably be read as 'written under fascism'?) might shift the 'joke' from 'voice' to sth like 'order'/'command'?

So, this quote is some form of word play? And if it would have to be read as 'strictly Latin throughout' (is it?), then how to translate that?

But what exactly is Klemperer 'voicing' here?

Answer 1

It's a mistake in the English translation.

As Adam Bishop in the Wiki discussion you link to says, the quote in German is Aber es gibt keine vox populi, sondern nur voces populi "But there is no voice of the people, only voices of the people" -- with voces as the correct nominative plural form. For some reason, the English translator decided to incorrect Klemperer's Latin.