''' <summary>Splitten einer Zeichenfolge unter Beachtung von markierten 
' Zeichengruppen</summary>
    ''' <param name="text">zu splittende Zeichenfolge</param>
    ''' <param name="split_char">Splitt-Zeichen</param>
    ''' <param name="group_char">Zeichen, das Beginn und Ende von 
    ' Zeichengruppen markiert</param>
    Public Function tm_split(ByVal text As String, ByVal split_char As Char,
                              ByVal group_char As Char) As String()
 
        Dim split_list As New List(Of String)(text.Split(split_char))
        Dim i As Integer = -1
        Do
            i += 1
            If split_list(i).StartsWith(group_char) And Not split_list( _
              i).EndsWith(group_char) Then
                split_list(i) &= " " & split_list(i + 1)
                If Not i = split_list.Count - 1 Then split_list.RemoveAt(i + 1)
                i -= 1
            End If
        Loop Until i = split_list.Count - 1
 
        For i = 0 To split_list.Count - 1
            split_list(i) = split_list(i).Trim(group_char)
        Next
        Return split_list.ToArray
    End Function

Dim text As String = "-Das ist ein- naja -sagen wir mal- seltsames -Thema.-"
Dim parts() As String = tm_split(text, " "c, "-"c)