public int countSyllables(String word) {
        if(word==null || word.equalsIgnoreCase(""))
            return 0;
        
        int total=1;
        boolean after=false;
        char s = sep.charAt(0);
        for(char c:word.toCharArray()) {
            if(c == s)
                after=true;
            if(after==true) {
                ++total;
                after=false;
            }
        }
        
        return total;
    }