スクラッチで書くなら(0:)で0を追加して(0:1:_)をカウントしていくんだろうな

chkspand :: Char -> Int
chkspand c = if c == ' ' || c == '\t' || c == '\n' || c == '\r' then 0 else 1

wordcount = let
iterator [ ] = 0
iterator ( 0: 1: xs ) = 1 + ( iterator xs )
iterator ( x : xs ) = iterator xs
in iterator . ( 0 : )

main = do
print $ map chkspand $ " asas df df"
print $ wordcount . map chkspand $ " asas df df"