if no separator or vertical bar in the input,
   then all elements in word-list belong to sub-list 0.
   step 1 finishes.
pointer points to sub-list 0.
for each element is in word-list:
   if the element is a seperator:
        store the next element(s) to the pointed sub-list.
        move the pointer to the next sub-list.
   if the element is a vertical bar:
        move the pointer to the next sub-list.
        store all elements until the next vertical bar in the pointed sub-list.
        if the word after the next vertical bar is not a seperator
            move the pointer to the next sub-list.
   if the element is anything else:
        store the element in the pointed sub-list.