*sequi* as an example is a deponent verb. All forms are translated active, but look like passive forms.

Is this a feature of the Latin language (i.e. were contemporary linguists aware of such a feature) or was the verb *sequi* simply passive, but we as translators do not have a passive verb for *"to follow"* in English or other languages and thus need to translate such deponents differently?

An example for what I mean here are self-reflexive verbs: *To get used to* in english is not reflexive. (*I got used to the new president*). In German, on the contrary, it is (*Ich gewöhnte **mich** an den neuen Präsident*). Here, reflexivity is something I need to know as a German translator when translating the above sentence into German, but an English speaker wouldn't be aware of that. 

Is this the same with deponents?