;       split
!;      ;
!!;     !split
!!!;    !;
!!!!;   !!split
!!!!!;  !!;
etc.

##</code><code>##

while(<>) {
    chomp;
    s/(?<!!);/ ;;;; /g;
    s/(?<!!)!;/;/g;
    s/(?<!!)!!;/! ;;;; /g;
    s/(?<!!)!!!;/!;/g;
    s/(?<!!)!!!!;/!! ;;;; /g;
    s/(?<!!)!!!!!;/!!;/g;
    @a = split(/ ;;;; /);
    print "@a\n";
}