my $string = "This word:ding, is:a sound.";
$,='!';

#prints "This!word:ding,!is:a!sound."
print split( /\s/, $string );

#prints "This word!ding, is!a sound."
print split( /:/, $string );

#prints "Th! word:ding, !:a sound."
print split( /is/, $string);