Which linguistic term describes a pause or break used for clarity in spoken language?

The term that accurately describes a pause or break used for clarity in spoken language is juncture. Juncture refers to the way in which sounds or words are joined or separated in spoken language. It is essential for conveying the correct meaning and can significantly affect comprehension. For example, in the phrase "Let's eat, Grandma," the pause before "Grandma" creates a clear distinction, ensuring that the speaker is inviting Grandma to eat rather than suggesting that Grandma is the meal.

In contrast, intonation involves variations in pitch or tone during speech, which can convey emotions or distinctions in meaning, but does not specifically focus on pauses. Fluency describes the smoothness and flow of speech but does not entail the concept of pauses for clarity. Stress refers to the emphasis placed on certain syllables or words to indicate importance but is unrelated to the concept of breaks or pauses. Hence, juncture is the term that correctly encapsulates the idea of pauses used for clarity in spoken language.