Preschoolers’ inferences about pointers and labelers: The modality matters

•We investigated the magnitude of children’s inferences about pointers and speakers.•Children see an accurate and inaccurate actor who either speak or point.•Children inferred that accurate pointers would point, not speak, accurately later.•Children inferred that accurate speakers would also point accurately later.•Children make more limited inferences about those who point than those who speak.